Killings, violence lead to LG boss’ overthrow

Reasons have emerged for the dissolution of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) as the Rivers State government said killings and general violence had become unbearable.

Governor Wike said while swearing in two council bosses that the council chairman of Onelga sponsored cult killings. He talked of what he called high-level insecurity that had claimed lives and damaged the economy of the area.

Performing the swearing-in ceremony of the caretaker committee of ONELGA, Isaac Umejere, and caretaker committee, Michael Amadi at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, Wike said the state government would not stand aloof and watch the total breakdown  of  law and order in a local government  area.

He noted that security reports indicated that there was need to intervene and enthrone rule of law in ONELGA. The governor said: “Caretaker Committee of ONELGA, your priority should be to restore peace and security in your community. We must do everything humanly possible to improve security in the area. You have to collaborate with security agencies to  fight crime and cultism in ONELGA”.

He charged the new chairman to avoid any links with cult groups unlike his predecessor, saying that if he was found to have a relationship with cultists he would too be sacked.

The governor said that the situation in ONELGA was purely cult-related violence, and that  even the  APC Governorship candidate,  Dakuku Peterside,  agreed that the  violence  in  ONELGA  had nothing  to  do  with politics.

ONELGA was dissolved by the Rivers State House of Assembly. Onelga was elected under the Chibuike Amaechi administration while others were caretaker members appointed by Wike. The fall of Onelga is seen by the APC as the completion of the takeover of all councils by Wike.

On Etche LGA, Wike  charged the new caretaker  chairman to ensure  that  the low level of crime in the area was maintained. He urged the chairman to continue with the security project of his predecessor, who he said reduced kidnapping in the  area.