A Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Chima Uzoma, has been accused of collaborating with criminals in illegal oil theft in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers state.
A statement by the media aide to the River state Sole Administrator, Hector Igbikiowubo,stated that the Sole Administrator of the LGA, Mr. Manager Ikechi Nwala, made the allegation known while outlining pressing issues affecting the area, during a town hall meeting held yesterday at the Omuma Local Government Council Headquarters in Eberi.
It said other pressing issues that he listed include, land grabbing and politically motivated arrests of Omuma indigenes.
It said His Royal Highness, Eze Monday I. Ojiegbe, speaking on behalf of the Omuma Council of Chiefs, commended the state government’s efforts in restoring peace but raised critical concerns that Omuma, an oil-producing LGA, is excluded from oil derivation benefits and that some oil wells have been wrongly allotted to Abia State, necessitating urgent boundary resolution to prevent future crises.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, His Excellency, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), reiterated that the security of lives and property remains the top priority of his administration, it stated.
The statement also stated that the Sole Administrator represented by the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olugbenga Adepoju, emphasized that the meeting was crucial for understanding the welfare and security challenges faced by Omuma LGA and for developing actionable solutions.
It noted that the sole administrator reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to security and development in Omuma LGA.
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police stressed that security is everyone’s business and called on the Sole Administrator of Omuma LGA, Mr. Manager Ikechi Nwala, to hold regular town hall meetings with law enforcement agencies, traditional rulers, political leaders, women, and youth groups to ensure lasting peace in the area.
It added that he urged stakeholders to protect government facilities as well as report suspicious activities promptly and encouraged the LGA leadership to identify non-functional but impactful projects for government intervention.
Furthermore, the statement said the CP Adepoju assured that the allegations against the DPO would be investigated, and appropriate action taken, adding that the Rivers State Government will review boundary disputes with Abia State to ensure fair resource allocation.
He said that more security deployments will be made to Omuma to tackle oil bunkering and land grabbing, noting that rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, including healthcare and education facilities, will be prioritized.
