Wike survived 5 assassination attempts in 11 months, says Rivers commissioner

Austin Tam-George, Rivers state commissioner for information and communication, says Nyesom Wike, governor of the state, has survived five assassination attempts in 11 months.

Wike had told Punch over the weekend that the inspector–general of police had mandated the police commissioner in the state to kill him, an allegation the force denied.

But in a statement issued on Monday, Tam–George accused the police of shying away from the truth.

He said the police was callous and insensitive to have claimed not being aware that the governor’s life was at risk.

“It is no secret that the APC government declared war on the government and people of Rivers state, soon after the party lost the governorship litigation at the supreme court in 2016,” he said.

“The first attempt to kill the governor was made immediately after the supreme court verdict.”

“The governor’s chief security officer was removed without any explanation, and the six police officers dismissed by the police in January played a key role in foiling the series of attempts to kill Wike.”

Tam-George said after several failed attempts, an offer of N150 million was made to two of the six dismissed police officers to kill the governor, but that the officers declined the offer.

“We call on the Interpol and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to lead an independent inquiry into why those gallant and patriotic officers were dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force on spurious charges of misconduct,” he said.

He also said the APC government was plotting to seize Rivers in 2019.