Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has imposed a 24-hour total
curfew for two weeks on the entire area around the Okoro-Nu-Odu flyover
in Rumuokoro, due to an upsurge of cult activities and related violence.
The governor has also warned that the government will spare no efforts
to deal appropriately with anyone who decides to disturb peace and
security in the State with cult activities and associated violence and
killings.
Governor Wike, in a state-wide broadcast, explained that decision to
impose the curfew was taken after the State Security Council meeting on
Sunday in Port Harcourt.
He explained that the Rivers State Government was seriously disturbed by
the recent upsurge of cult activities and related violence and killings
around the adjoining areas of the Okoro-Nu-Odu flyover in Obio/Akpor
Local Government Area.
The governor stated that the government has repeatedly warned misguided
youths that engaging in cultism because of its abhorrent anti-social
effect on society.
“As part of measures to tackle this menace, therefore, Government has
imposed a 24-hour total curfew for two weeks on the entire area along
and around the Okoro-nodu flyover up to one-kilometer radius from Saint
Emmanuel Anglican Church, Rumuokoro, extending to the Rumuodomaya
Slaughter and Local Government daily market with effect from Monday 23rd
November 2020.
“Consequently, no form of trading, human or vehicular movement is
allowed within the afore-mentioned restricted areas until further
notice. Only staff and vehicles belonging to Julius Berger Nigeria
Limited are exempted from the curfew and associated restrictions on
movement so that construction work on the Okoro-Nu-Odu flyover is not
stalled.”
The governor directed security agencies are to enforce strict compliance
with the curfew and arrest and summarily prosecute any person, trader or
vehicle that may attempt to violate the curfew.
“Again, we wish to warn that community leaders that allow cultism and
related activities to thrive unabated in their communities would be
treated as collaborators to the resulting crimes and dealt with
accordingly.
“We urge all citizens to be part of the efforts to curb cultism in the
State by reporting any suspicious cult activity, including gatherings
and initiations in or around their neighborhoods to the security
agencies for immediate action.”
Governor disclosed that the State government will construct the 7th
flyover in Port Harcourt to traverse Ikokwu to Azikiwe Street.
He appealed to residents of Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor Local
Government Areas to bear with the State government for traffic
challenges that they may encounter in connection with the ongoing
construction of the Oro-Abali and other flyovers.
“As you know our promise to construct and five flyovers to ease the
perennial traffic challenges and accelerate socio-economic development
of the State is well on course. we delivered and commissioned the first
of the initial five flyovers, (the Rebisi flyover) to the glory of God
and the good of our State, while construction work on the rest has
reached advanced levels of completion.
“Indeed, the Okoro-nu-do flyover is next on the line to be delivered and
commissioned, latest, in the first quarter of 2021.
Two days ago, the State Executive Council approved the award of the
contract for the constructing of the sixth flyover along the Oro-Abali
(Kaduna street) intersection of Aba road to Julius Berger Nigeria
Limited.”