Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, Adamu Abubakar, of attempting to sabotage the coronavirus-induced lockdown by issuing illegal letters to companies.
Mr Wike stated this in an interview after monitoring the level of compliance on Thursday.
“It is unfortunate to see the level of sabotage that we get from the police. Particularly, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Rivers State Police Command,” he said.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Police will sign approvals for companies because he wants to collect money. I am the governor of this state and there cannot be two governors.
“The Deputy Commissioner of Police has no powers to issue approvals when the State Government has locked down the state. After the State Security Council met and agreed on the lockdown, the Deputy Commissioner of Police went ahead to issue illegal letters to companies to operate. I have never seen that in my life.”
The governor also commended residents for complying with the lockdown declared to check the spread of coronavirus.
He said: “I want to commend Rivers people for the level of support they have shown. The level of compliance is quite satisfactory. It is more than 95 percent within the two Local Government Areas.”
In the course of monitoring the level of compliance, Wike arrested several violators and impounded cars.
He, however, allowed a pregnant woman who violated the lockdown order, on compassionate grounds.
