Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu state has placed a N10 million bounty on the killers of two policemen in the state.

On May 7, the Enugu state police command said two policemen and three members of the neighbourhood watch were killed during a crisis that erupted in Iggah community, Uzo-Uwani LGA of the state.

While briefing journalists after a security council meeting at the government house on Saturday, Mbah said the state would go after the culprits with every resource at its disposal.

On the possible culprits, Mbah said available information pointed to men of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

He called on members of the public to be on the lookout for the criminals and the exhibits, and report same to security agencies.

“We just rounded off our security council meeting where we discussed, among other things, about the gruesome killing of our policemen – men of the Enugu state police command — by criminals suspected to be members of the ESN,” Mbah said.

“Let me say this. This bestial and cold-blooded action cannot be condoned in Enugu state. I have given my directives to the security agencies that there must be no hiding place for these criminals in Enugu state. We must use everything necessary to hunt down, arrest, and bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

“We have also placed a bounty of N10 million as a reward to anyone, who would have any useful information that will lead to the arrest of these criminals. So, I enjoin members of the public to, please, come forward, or call the police and other security agencies with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of these criminals.

“We do not have room to accommodate these people, these vagabonds, and these miscreants in our state.

“We are going to do everything necessary to ensure that the ultimate sacrifice made by our valiant policemen does not go in vain.”

Mbah said the government would provide the necessary support to the bereaved families.

“Let me just also add that those who murder our policemen or indeed any member of our security agencies may assume that they have triumphed in their evil acts. Let me inform them that we are going to come after them with everything we have,” the governor said.

“We are going to deploy all the necessary technology, all the necessary forces within our powers to track them, capture them and defeat them. Enugu State and indeed with the support of the security agencies, we are going to make life uncomfortable for those who do not want to live in a decent society.”

The Police Command in Rivers has explained why it deployed about 30 armed policemen and Armoured Personnel Carriers to the residential quarters of members of the state House of Assembly in Port Harcourt.

The deployment has heightened political tension in the state amidst face-off between some lawmakers and the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The factional Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, has alleged that the governor was plotting to demolish the houses, a claim dismissed by Fubara.

The governor had visited the residential quarters on Wednesday, during which he told journalists that he was there for an on-the-spot assessment of the condition of the houses for possible rehabilitation.

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the state All Progressive Congress, Tony Okocha, recently urged the lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against the governor.

The Police Command, however, said that the deployment of personnel to the assembly quarters was for the purpose of upholding peace, not partisan interest.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command spokesperson, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said that the recent political developments prompted the deployment.

“Our deployment in the area is solely aimed at ensuring peace and preventing any possible breakdown of order.

“We assure the public that there is no cause for alarm and all individuals are encouraged to carry on with their lawful activities without fear.

“Cooperation from the public is greatly appreciated as the police command strives to maintain a safe and secure environment for all,” she stated.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers state has gazetted an executive order moving the sitting of the state house assembly to the government house.

The executive order 001 is dated October 30, 2023.

The governor said the sitting of the state parliament will henceforth take place at the government house until the assembly complex, which was affected by fire in October, is renovated.

“That on the 29th day of October 2023, a fire incident occasioned by unknown persons burned and damaged the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the gazette reads.

“That the Hallowed Chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly in its present state is unsafe and constitutes a threat to the lives of the staff and the Honourable members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and thus not conducive for the business and proceeding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is expedient to carry out urgent repairs, renovation, and reconstruction of the burnt and damaged chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“That it is further reasonable to ensure that the business and proceedings of the Rivers State House of Assembly are not impeded and frustrated.

“Now therefore, I, sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State this 30th day of October 2023, pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby issue, order, and direct that all proceedings and business of Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the Auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt until the repairs, renovation or reconstruction of the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are completed.”

The gazetting of the order comes in the wake of a renewed political crisis in the oil-rich state.

THE CRISIS

The Rivers house of assembly has been polarised since 2023 following the rift between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

In December, 27 members of the assembly defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Rivers assembly has 32 seats. One lawmaker, Dinebari Loolo, died in September 2023.

In October 2023, Ehie Edison was elected speaker of the factional assembly, after his removal as house leader by members led by Martin Amaewhule — amid the plot to impeach Fubara.

Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become chief of staff to the governor.

The lawmakers in the Amaewhule-led faction are loyal to Wike.

The political crisis took a new twist on Wednesday after Victor Jumbo, a lawmaker representing the Bonny state constituency, was elected factional speaker.

On Friday, a state high court in Port Harcourt granted an interim injunction restraining Amaewhule from acting as a speaker of the Rivers assembly.

Charles Wali, the presiding judge, also restrained 25 other assembly members from parading themselves as legislators.

The motion ex parte was filed by Jumbo and two assembly members — Sokari Goodboy and Orubienimigha Timothy — loyal to Fubara.

There are rumours that Fubara is plotting to demolish the state assembly quarters in Port Harcourt.

Amid the speculations, some armed police officers on Friday barricaded the two entrances to the assembly quarters.