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Tag: Wike

  • BREAKING: PENGASSAN drags Wike to FG, accuses him of hostage-taking

    The national body of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has dragged Rivers State Government, led by Governor Nyesom Wike to the federal government over arrest and harassment of its members, the most recent are members in Tecon Oil Company and Exxonmobil who were said to be on essential duty.

    In a statement issued by PENGASSAN’s General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, the Association implored the federal government and all interested stakeholders to as a matter of economic and national urgency prevail on the security agencies in Rivers State and all other states to stop the unpleasant anti-workers and economic posture that amounts to hostage taking.

    “We warn that should this high level of intimidation harassment persists, PENGASSAN, will in consultation with our sister union in the sector have no option than order our members out of the various oil platforms, rigs…” Statement partly reads.

    Meanwhile, Gov Wike had earlier insinuated that the federal government is plotting to infect, kill Rivers people hence his aggressive approach at implementing a lockdown order in the state.

    Wike’s words on arrest of 21 Exxonmobil staff: “Even though security agencies advised that they be allowed to go back to Akwa Ibom State, I insisted that the law must take its course,” Mr Wike said. “This is because nobody is above the law.”

    Mr Wike said the state government could not ascertain the health status of the arrested Mobil employees.

    “As a responsive government, we have quarantined them in line with the relevant health protocols and they will be charged to court.”

    The arrest of the Mobil workers comes a few days after two Caverton Helicopters pilots and their ten passengers were arrested, charged to court, and remanded in Port Harcourt prison for allegedly violating the lockdown order in Rivers State.

    “Some people want the escalation of the virus in Rivers State. People were paid to canvass a negative narrative on Caverton pilots.

    “We are doing what we can within available resources to fight coronavirus. You can fly, but as you fly and land, don’t enter our territory.

    “We will fight this matter legally. ExxonMobil does not operate in Rivers State. That they have a point at the Onne seaport does not mean that they operate in Rivers State.

    READ ALSO: Wike inaugurates nine commissioners, 17 permanent secretaries
    “People in Abuja are not happy. They want Rivers State to be infected. They want to kill Rivers people and I will not allow it. I was elected to protect Rivers people. Rivers State is not a pariah State.

    “People selling Akara are being charged to court in Lagos. But they want us to allow oil companies to flout the law. I am a boy to Rivers people, not to anybody outside Rivers State,” the governor said.

    In contrast with Governor Wike’s position, the police in River state had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that the workers have not been arrested.

    “They were not arrested,” the police spokesperson in the state, Nnamdi Omoni, said on Friday.

    “The CP (the commissioner of police) and other service commanders went on an inspection tour of all the border points, when we got to the Ogoni axis we saw these people (the Mobil workers), they wanted to come in. They showed us a letter but that was not the issue; the issue was that they were not screened. The people were taken from that border post to the screening centre at the Elekaya Stadium.

    “They are still being screened (for coronavirus). Nobody arrested them.”

  • EXCLUSIVE: Tension in Rivers as Gov Wike arrests 22 Exxon Mobil offshore staff

    Another tension is brewing in Rivers State as Governor Nyensom Wike on Thursday night ordered arrest of 22 offshore staff of Exxon Mobil.

    21 of the workers are members of the Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, while the remaining staff is the company’s Chief Security Officer, CSO.

    Confirming the arrest while speaking on a cable TV on Friday, Wike lamented that people selling Akara, groundnuts as their daily means of living are being charged to court in Lagos everyday, while stressing that big companies are the ones flouting the lockdown order the most.

    “People selling Akara, groundnuts are being charged to court daily in Lagos for disobeying lockdown orders but when we arrest able bodies companies, they say we should leave them…”No body can use Rivers State as a toy, I will use this ExxonMobil matter to expose lots of people in Abuja.” Wike said.

    According to a statement issued PENGASSAN Exxon Mobile Branch Secretary, Kingsley Udoidua, exclusively obtained by TheNewsGuru(TNG) the workers are as at the time this report was filed (Friday, April 17, ) still at Elekaya Stadium, Port Harcourt, where they have reportedly assaulted and security operatives.

    The statement partly reads “At about 3:30pm on Thursday April 16, 2020, Rivers State commissioner of police with his team and a top Army commander intercepted the convoy (protected by the police) conveying 21 ExxonMobil personnel who are PENGASSAN members on their way to Intels, Port Harcourt, at Bori (Akwa Ibom/Rivers boundary).

    “The commissioner rebuffed all explanations and forced them to move to Elekaya Stadium, Port Harcourt, where they have been detained, verbally assaulted and starved”

    “It is appalling that Rivers State has turned the global efforts in combating Covid-19 to a tool of muscle-flexing and petty opression of oilfield workers”

  • Lockdown: How Caverton Helicopters flew 220 passengers into Rivers – Wike

    Lockdown: How Caverton Helicopters flew 220 passengers into Rivers – Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has defended his action in arresting two pilots of Caverton Helicopters and 10 passengers, saying the company had frequently violated his executive order on the Coronavirus lockdown by previously flying 220 passengers into the state.

    He accused the Federal Government of playing politics with the issue by sponsoring articles in the newspaper against the Rivers State Government.

    Wike spoke through Paulinus Nsirim, Commissioner for Information and Communication, who said “The case in point is the promotion and sponsorship of a misleading narrative on the arrest of two pilots and 10 passengers of Caverton Helicopters by the Ministry of Aviation.”

    “Contrary to the view being peddled by the Minister of Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika, the two pilots of Caverton Helicopters and their 10 passengers were not arrested because they operated a permit granted them by the Ministry of Aviation.

    “They were arrested because they constantly contravened the Executive Order issued by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, which requires that everyone coming into the state for essential duties subject themselves to mandatory health checks to ascertain their coronavirus status .

    “Before their arrests, the Rivers State Government issued several warnings to Caverton and other operators to ensure that their pilots and passengers are tested by Rivers State Health Authorities. Caverton Helicopters disregarded the warnings.

    “At the last count, Caverton Helicopters flew over 220 passengers into the State without allowing health professionals of the Rivers State Government ascertain their coronavirus status. They also refused to avail the State Government their contacts, so they can be traced and tested,” he said.

    He further said that Rivers State Government remained committed to the protection of the over six million citizens of the state.

    Nsirim said the government was not struggling to issue landing permits to airlines, “neither are we contending for the control of the air space. Therefore, the issue on ground has nothing to do with the Exclusive List.”

    He said that the focus of the Rivers State Government was to ensure that nobody under the guise of transporting workers on essential services, flew persons who would compromise the state’s health system.

    “Therefore, these pilots and passengers must be subjected to health checks before they carry out their responsibilities. That is standard practice.

    “The Federal Government as we speak, has quarantined Chinese Doctors who are in the country on invitation of the operators of Exclusive List. These Chinese Doctors will be isolated for 14 days as a precaution before they mix with Nigerians.

    “If the Federal Government has done that in Abuja for Chinese officials that they invited, why do they insist that persons coming into Rivers State must enter the state without health check? What are they hiding?“ He queried.

  • COVID-19: Wike makes U-Turn as churches, mosques reject suspension of lockdown for Easter, Juma’at prayers

    COVID-19: Wike makes U-Turn as churches, mosques reject suspension of lockdown for Easter, Juma’at prayers

    Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, has made a U-turn on his earlier decision to permit churches and Muslims to worship in full congregations for Easter celebration.

    The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim, in a statement at the weekend, said the decision was taken after due consultations with eminent clergy men, well-meaning Nigerians and civil society groups.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, churches should stick to the 50 persons per service to maintain social distancing,” he said.

    Wike, in a statewide broadcast, temporarily relaxed the restrictions on large religious gatherings directing Muslims to observe their Jumaat prayers and Christians to worship in full congregations on Sunday.

    Rivers has two confirmed cases of COVID-19 based on statistics published by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    The governor said: “In the spirit of Easter, therefore, and after a careful review of the state of COVID-19 situation in our state, all Moslem faithful should observe Juma’at prayers in their mosques or prayer grounds throughout the State and pray for the peace, forgiveness and the blessings of Allah upon the State.

    “All Christians should have Easter Church Services with their full congregation and pray to God to forgive us of our sins, continue to intervene in our affairs and protect the State and our people from the Coronavirus”.

    It was, however, gathered that religious leaders in the state while appreciating the generosity of the governor and his passion, opted to toe the path of caution.

    The Muslims reportedly turned down the offer as they shunned large gathering for their Jumaat prayer on Friday while most residents expressed fears that allowing larger gathering of worshippers could reverse the gains of the governor in his fight against the pandemic.

    The Catholic Diocese of Port Harcourt also wrote a letter dated April 10 to all the priests in the zone, urging them to stick to all health tips against the prevention of the pandemic.

    The diocese, in a letter signed by its Bishop, Camillus Etokudoh, appreciated the Governor but turned down the offer after considering its health implication.

    The letter said: “We deeply appreciate statewide broadcast of the governor during which he temporarily relaxed the restrictions on large religious gatherings for Moslems on Friday for their prayers and for Christians on Sunday to have their full congregation for Easter celebrations.

    “However, in the face of the threat of COVID-19 and having prayerfully considered the implications of the risks to our expected crowded congregation on normal Easter celebration, we hereby request you our priests and lay faithful to continue to keep to the CBCN and our diocesan pastoral directives”.

  • We’ll ensure timely release of Caverton helicopters pilots arrested by Wike – FG

    We’ll ensure timely release of Caverton helicopters pilots arrested by Wike – FG

    The Federal Government has assured that the two Caverton Helicopter pilots arrested by the Rivers State Government will be released soon.

    It also said the pilots were on national assignment when the arrest was made.

    The pilots were arrested by the police for flouting the state’s government directive of flying into the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt despite the lockdown order following the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

    The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, also noted that the governor does not need to know about the approval given to Caverton by the federal government.

    Speaking at the Presidential Task Force briefing in Abuja on Saturday, Sirika said there was a need to focus on tackling the virus ravaging the country.

    He said: “I think coronavirus is a very serious matter of life and death and should not be politicised.

    “According to Chapter 2, Section 14 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which states the primary purpose of the government to ensure the security of lives and property, that is why the Task Force on COVID-19 was established by Mr. President. So, it involves the lives of 200 million of all of us and it takes precedence in this case.”

    Giving an update on the pilots, he said: “The pilots were carrying out a national assignment because the speech and address by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who is the chairman of the Task Force and the presidential address exempted oil and gas from the lockdown in national interest, and the Caverton Helicopters were flying into a military base for national assignment.

    “I may not be learned but I am lettered, and I understand in this case that there is no conflict between a federal and state law. But I will not go into law on this platform because it is unnecessary.

    “So, whether His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State ought to know if the exempted Caverton flight will be landing in a military base in Port Harcourt, he does not need to know.”

    On the fate of the pilots, the minister said: “The pilots will soon be released and secured and there will be no conviction hanging on their necks.

    “Arising from Constitutional provisions and the powers of Mr. President and the seriousness of this Taskforce and the danger of COVID-19 and the way we operate in civil and military aviation, it is why I said the Air Force officer acted ignorantly once the helicopter landed on its property to have called the governor.

    “Also, the federal police who made the arrest within the premises of the military and prosecuted also acted ignorantly, and I said they exhibited incompetently.

    “This matter should not be over-flogged because the federal government is very serious and it is here for the 200 million people of Nigeria, whether you are from Rivers, Cross River, Kano, Kaduna regardless.”

    Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for dialogue between the Federal Government and the Rivers State Government over the arrest and detention of the pilots of helicopters by Rivers.

    In a statement issued by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, the party asked the Federal Government to avoid acts that would portray it as politicising the fight against COVID-19, just like the face-off has shown.

    The party said it was deeply concerned that issues of protocols, which could have been managed through dialogue, was being escalated by the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika to assume a political dimension.

    The statement said: “Our party holds that the issue of public health safety should be of major concern to all actors in government irrespective of the offices they occupy.

    “We find it strange that the Federal Government would be supporting a private business to disobey the extant order of a state.

    “We hold that all decisions and actions of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wilke, so far, rests on ensuring public safety and protecting the people of Rivers State from the scary wrath of COVID-19.

    “We therefore call on the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Aviation, to pursue the path of dialogue and stop politicising COVID-19.

    “The PDP considers it imperative to ask the Federal Government to direct Carveton and her passengers to subject themselves to health checks by Rivers State Health Surveillance Officials.

    “We also demand that President Muhammadu Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, provide incentives for Rivers State to enable the state perform its responsibility as the oil and gas hub of our nation, particularly at this critical time of COVID-19”.

  • Wike Vs FG: ‘Love Rivers or leave her alone’ Rivers NASS caucus cautions FG

    Wike Vs FG: ‘Love Rivers or leave her alone’ Rivers NASS caucus cautions FG

    River State lawmakers made up of Senate and House of Representatives members have cautioned the federal government not to meddle with affairs of the state under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike.

    Recall that the federal government on Wednesday flayed Wike over two Caverton’s pilots who were recently arrested in Port Harcourt for allegedly violating the lockdown order imposed by the Rivers State government- saying they were due authorised to fly.

    The minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, said the pilots had the permission of the federal government to fly.

    However, Rivers NASS caucus on Thursday night, faulted Sirika’s position in a statement made available to newsmen – the lawmakers also declared support for governor Wike’s sanctions on Caverton’s ‘unauthorised’ flight into Rives State.

    The statement reads:” We are aware that there is a Global pandemic Covid-19 ravaging the entire globe with nearly 1.5million people already known to have been infected and over 80,000 deaths recorded officially thereby compelling all nations to take steps to contain and halt its spread and safeguard the lives of citizens, Nigeria also is making efforts in this direction.

    One of the steps and actions taken by different countries include lockdowns, restrictions of movements into and out of areas and even within an area. Flights have also been affected.

    In Nigeria, as a federation, several states were quite proactive and took steps to contain the pandemic which Rivers State also did and deriving from the Quarantine Act, issued guidelines and protocols to guide and direct the activities of Government and its citizens during the period of the lockdown and restrictions.

    To the consternation of all, Caverton helicopters was observed sadly to be ferrying passengers into Rivers State from unknown destinations without any declaration of their Covid-19 status and or prior information to the state for its health officers to be on ground. This action no doubt endangered the lives of the citizens and all those residing in Rivers State and is contrary to the executive orders RVSG-01, 2020 Made pursuant to sections 2,4 and 8 of the Quarantine Act, Cap. Q21 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Regulation 11 of the Quarantine (Corona Virus (Covid-19))and other infectious diseases regulations 2020.

    We should be reminded at this point that the responsibility of any Government is the welfare and security of the lives of its citizens and as such should not be seen to be placing its citizens in harm’s way.

    The Rivers State Government resort to the judicial and administrative means to curtail the excesses of Carverton Helicopter rather than be applauded, we observed that an appointee of Mr President Sen. Hadi Sirika- Minister of Aviation resorted to issuing threats to an elected Governor, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike whose responsibility it is to protect the lives of Rivers people and her residence.

    We want to assume that the Minister of Aviation does not understand the times or the true meaning of a Federation or may have an ulterior motive to expose the citizens of Rivers State to danger and death from the Covid-19 pandemic. It is pertinent to note that every person (including ministers) on Rivers soil, save you enjoy immunity is bound by the laws and regulations of the land.

    It is equally sad and heart wrenching that the Minister’s attempted justification of his desire to open the doors of the death unto Rivers State and its people is to enable the unhindered flow of Oil revenue for a central Government that has continuously treated the people with so much disdain. Let it be stated and here that enough of Rivers blood and indeed that of the people of the Niger Delta have been used to water the “oil fields and revenue of a dysfunctional Federation “ no more of the blood of the people should be used to water the “oil and revenue flow”. We would had expected that the Federal Government would be more interested in protecting the people and have better communication in pursuing whatever interest.

    More insulting to the sensibilities of Rivers people is the disdainful claim by the minister that Rivers State benefits more from the proceeds of oil operation. That to us as Representatives of Rivers people is like spitting on our graves as you discretionally give us a percentage of our resources in a Federation and expect us to be grateful to you.

    It is also very pertinent to put on record that this is indeed not the first time the management of Caverton Helicopters is being treacherous with Rivers State and her citizens.

    We want to say that we stand with and support the actions taken so far by our amiable Executive Governor of our dear state, Rivers State to protect the lives of the people of Rivers State and pray that God should continue to guide and protect Rivers State.

    We caution the lieutenants of Mr President to desist from reckless actions that are likely to paint Mr President in bad light. We must work as a Nation United, sincere and transparent in the fight against the pandemic.

    All essential services are allowed to operate subject to the safety of lives of our citizens

  • COVID-19 War: Wike dares FG, orders closure of all Caverton Helicopters offices in Rivers

    The Rivers State Government has declared Caverton Helicopters, Persona Non Grata in the state and ordered the closure of all its offices in the state.

    In a State Broadcast on Wednesday, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike directed Local Government Council Chairmen to close the offices of Caverton Helicopters across the state.

    He said: “We appreciate the need to protect business interests and operations in the State and we will do whatever that is required to ensure that no business is unduly affected by the measures we have taken to combat the Coronavirus.

    “However, we shall not welcome businesses or companies that value their business activities or profit more than or in clear disregard of the lives and health of our people.

    “By its actions Caverton Helicopters have clearly shown that Rivers lives do not matter to it. It is an enemy of Rivers people and is hereby declared persona non grata in Rivers State.

    “With this declaration, Caverton Helicopters can only chose to operate in any part of Rivers State at its own risk as Local Government Chairmen have been directed to close their offices and prevent their operations.”

    Wike said that the highly insensitive and provocative actions of Caverton Helicopters took place in the midst of credible intelligence reports about plans by enemies of the state to traffic carriers of the dreaded Coronavirus into the State.

    He said: “Their morbid intention is to create panic by pushing up the infection rate and rubbish the robust measures we have since put in place to cut off the spread of the virus and keep our State and our citizens safe and secure from the ravaging pandemic.

    “As expected, and required by our laws, the crew and the passengers on board that ill-fated helicopter were promptly arrested by the law enforcement personnel and are being prosecuted before our courts in line with our COVID 19 Declarations and Containment Orders.

    “Caverton Helicopters claimed to have gotten permits from some federal agencies to fly passengers into the State , which never bordered to take the State Government into confidence in issuing such permits in violation of our laws and containment orders.

    “While federal agencies reserve the right to issue flight permits to airline operators to fly into Rivers State, we insist that the State Government must equally be informed and taken into confidence in the process.

    “This the only way to avoid suspicion, conflicts of interests and unnecessary bickering between the State and Federal Governments in our collective efforts to combat the spread of COVID 19 in the country.”

    Wike added: “Let me reiterate that for us, COVID-19 in Rivers State is a matter of life and death, and we will never succumb to any blackmail from any person, institution or authority in our determination to protect our citizens and our State from the spread of this deadly virus.

    “Since we triggered the law on Caverton Helicopters, we have seen and read all sorts of hilarious and frivolous comments, particularly on social media, questioning the propriety of our actions against the carrier and its passengers.

    “At this time and under the present situation, nothing; Irepeat; nothing, is more important to us than to safeguard the lives and wellbeing of our citizens no matter the cost, and we shall spare no efforts to achieve this singular most fundamental objective of our Government.”

    The Rivers State Governor said that the action of Caverton Helicopters when they conveyed passengers of doubtful Coronavirus status into the State was in flagrant violation of the State Government’s total restriction on flights into Port Harcourt.

    “We have sworn to protect the lives and advance the wellbeing our people, and nothing can stop us from taking all necessary steps to prevent or stop any person, action or activities that would endanger the lives of our citizens,” he said.

  • JUST IN: FG reacts to Wike’s arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ pilots

    JUST IN: FG reacts to Wike’s arrest of Caverton Helicopters’ pilots

    The Federal Government has bashed Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for arresting two Caverton Helicopters’ pilots and the passengers for flying into the State during Coronavirus lockdown.

    Wike had led the police and other military chiefs to arrest two pilots of Caverton Helicopters on Tuesday after the conveyed passengers into the State.

    The two pilots, Samuel Ugorji and Samuel Buhari, were remanded at the Port Harcourt Custodial Centre on Tuesday.

    Management of Caverton Helicopters had written to the Federal Government to rescue its pilots from Wike who arrested and prosecuted them in court for doing a legal duty.

    However, Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday, said the Federal Government duly granted Caverton Helicopters the right to fly into Rivers.

    He said the Police Commissioner and the Commander of the Air Force Base in Port Harcourt would have to answer for alleged incompetence and for going with Wike to arrest the pilots.

    According to him, Civil Aviation is on exclusive list and that it was only the Federal Government that had the power to legislate on aviation matters.

    He said the police and air force chiefs who went with Wike to effect the arrest were ignorant.

    “The Federal Government allowed the flight, we have the authority to approve such flight, we will do everything lawful to get the pilots back,” he said.

  • Caverton seeks FG’s intervention, says Gov Wike unduly punished its pilots

    Caverton seeks FG’s intervention, says Gov Wike unduly punished its pilots

    Caverton Helicopters has appealed to the federal government to prevail on the Governor of River State, Mr Nyesom Wike to release its pilots who have been remanded at the Port Harcourt prison.

    The governor accused the pilots of flying expatriates into River State without involving the state government in the testing and approval of the coronavirus status of the expatriates.

    In a statement yesterday night by Caverton management, the company said: “ At the start of the COVID -19 lockdown, we received a letter from our client stating that they have been given approval/ exemption to fly and continue operations. We (Caverton along with three other companies) also received approval from the Minister of Aviation to fly only essential services, mainly in the Oil and Gas industry”. “ Lastly, we got another approval from the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to fly for this same oil and gas sector.

    We have been flying along with these guidelines for the past seven days”. “Today, we were informed that the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Nyesom Wike was coming to address the operators in Port Harcourt and our people waited. But on arriving, the governor directed two of our pilots to be taken to CID where they were told to write statements”.

    “Despite all pleas by our lawyers who showed all the relevant documents, they were taken to the magistrate court and charged. At the court, our lawyers also presented all the documentations approving us to fly by the federal government but the case was closed and the pilots have been remanded in Port Harcourt prison till the 19th May.”

    “We appeal to the federal government to urge the Rivers State government to release our pilots who violated no law and are being unduly punished for reasons we still do not understand,” the statement said.

  • COVID-19: Police arrest two pilots for flying unknown expatriates into Rivers

    COVID-19: Police arrest two pilots for flying unknown expatriates into Rivers

    The police have arrested two pilots of Carveton Helicopter for flying expatriates into Rivers State in violation of the ongoing lockdown in state borders to fight the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The pilots accused of illegally bringing the expatriates were reportedly arrested by the Rivers Taskforce on enforcement of directives against Coronavirus.

    They were said to have been taken to the Rivers Police Command where Governor, Nyesom Wike visited them to assess the development.

    The Governor was said to be worried that the identities of the expatriates were unknown and had demanded the company to fish them out to verify their medical status.

    Wike had signed an executive order closing all land, air and sea borders as part of his numerous measures to contain the spread of the pandemic.

    Rivers Police Commissioner, Mustapha Dandaura, who confirmed the development said that the command arrested the pilot and co-pilot of Carveton Helicopters who ferried unknown passengers to the State. He said that the pilots violated the regulations regarding the safety of the state.

    He said: “Recall that when this coronavirus issues started, there was ban of local flight from coming into the State. Since that time we have been monitoring the activities of these private airlines.

    “To our surprise, we received an intelligence report that an aircraft has landed at the Airforce base and that it was carrying some passengers. We have apprehended the Pilot and the Co-pilot by the NAF commander that’s why they alerted the chief executive Governor of the state who had given an order that on no account should any aircraft land on Rivers State without clearance.

    “We don’t know the people they brought. Whether they are positive or negative of Coronavirus. Where are the heading to and where they came from

    He commended Wike for his commitment to the protection of Rivers people.

    He said: “To our surprise this morning this aircraft landed without any signal or permission from the authorities. We don’t know their mission here. Maybe they are coming here to sabotage the activities of the state and the security agencies that are putting efforts on ground to ensure that Rivers State enjoy peaceful atmosphere throughout this pandemic period”.

    Wike declared his willingness to set aside his immunity to testify against persons violating the state’s border closure aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.

    Speaking at the office of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Wike said the two pilots of Carveton Helicopters operated illegally.

    He said that the protection of Rivers people remained an important assignment that must be executed with the seriousness it deserved.

    He said: “I am willing to drop my immunity as a governor as far as this case is concerned . I am ready to be a prosecution witness. ”

    He charged the police to prosecute the matter to its logical conclusion to serve as deterrent to those interested in violating the regulations of the state regarding the fight against coronavirus.

    He said: “I want to say this is a serious matter to us and police should handle it seriously. That’s why I am here at the state command to show the seriousness of this issue.

    “No body says that you can’t go to any state but now we are in a war situation. This Covid-19 is even worse than a conventional war. We want to know who are those people you brought in, so that we have to trace them to know their identity and status. Luckily we have seen the pilot and the Co-pilot. They will assist the police to assist in identifying them”.

    Wike reiterated that though the state government had no power to close airports, it had the right to check those coming into the state in order to ascertain their status.

    He wondered why Carveton Helicopters decided to cut corners when the state government outlined the procedure for flying expatriates from Lagos into the state.

    He said: “I have always said that we need the support of everybody. Nobody knows the status of those coming into Port Harcourt. Nobody knows whether they are positive or negative. I have said before that I don’t have right to close the airport. But I have the right of saying don’t enter my state because we want to know your status.

    “The company wrote to us about bringing people which I forwarded to Commissioner of Police to perform security checks and the health officials to perform their duties before allowing them to come in. That is for those performing essential duties. But they decided to violate the regulations.”

    Wike insisted that his administration was duty-bound to protect Rivers people from coronavirus.

    He confirmed the second case of coronavirus in the state saying the person is a 62-year-old and recently returned from United Kingdom and entered the state through Lagos.

    Wike also confirmed that the index case of the state had been discharged from the treatment/isolation centre in Eleme.

    He said: “The positive index case of the virus we had by the grace of God has been discharged. What we have now is another case of a 62 years old person who came in from UK and landed in Lagos and then moved to Port Harcourt.”