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SENATOR Magnus Ngei Abe, senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District, has condemned the escalation of killings in parts of Rivers South East Senatorial district particularly in Ogoniland and assured that he was making concerted effort with youths, traditional rulers, clergy men to stem the spate of the crisis.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Abe said he will discuss with security agencies particularly the Inspector-General of Police, IG, in order halt to the senseless killings and wanton destruction of properties in the area.

On the extent of destruction, Senator Abe said he had detailed some clergy men to carry out a survey of the level of destruction and displaced persons with a view to contact the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to assist the areas affected by the crisis.

“Right now, I am working with youths, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to try to bring interest together so that we can work together to overcome these challenges. I am also talking with the security agencies that are doing a lot with very limited resources. When I get back to Abuja, I intend to engage the Inspector-General of Police because I also feel that the police in that part of the state at this time is not properly equipped to handle some of the challenges that we are seeing in the area. I am talking to NEMA to see what can be done and also sending a private delegation to go and visit some of these people and then get back to me so that we know the critical area we can respond in some of these communities. It is not only in Okwale. A lot of places, people have been displaced, their houses burnt. Because of fear they can’t go to their farms. And a lot of these people have nothing to sustain them outside what they get from their farms”.

He appealed to all stakeholders to bury their differences and work together to restore peace in the area.

“The situation is quite worrisome. A few weeks ago, I called the attention of the state and indeed people of Rivers South East. I felt that the Chairmen, being the chief security officers could have done more to help given the resources at their disposal. But unfortunately, rather than take what I said as a call to action, it became a further cause of political polarisation. This time around, I don’t want to lay blame on anybody. I also don’t want to say who should do what but I really think that it is time to bury whatever differences that we may have and actually come together to save our people from extinction”.

“Peace and security are cardinal to sustainable development of the district. The area cannot be a haven for investment and development where people are being killed and houses burnt. At the rate people are moving out of Ogoni land, Bori. At the rate those with economic viability and potentials are leaving the place, I don’t know how the place would survive”, he stated in a statement signed by Parry Saroh Benson, spokesperson to Senator Abe and made available to Realnews today.

—  Mar 7, 2017 @ 18:40 GMT

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