Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the All Progressives Congress of colluding with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Rivers state to commit kidnappings, extortion and other violent crimes in the state.
Wike made the accusation after the Rivers State chapter of the APC came to the defence of SARS barely 24 hours after the governor’s declaration of the Police unit as a party to crime in the state.
The APC through its spokesman, Chris Finebone had said, “Ordinarily, the APC has no business involving in any matter between the governor and any other entity, but in the instant case and even in previous related cases, the governor has either alluded to or expressly stated that the APC benefited from whatever allegations he raised against the police or particularly the SARS.
“From all indications, the governor’s accusation yesterday (Wednesday) that members of SARS abducted some persons and forced them to withdraw N500, 000 is manifestly cooked up to directly smear members of the SARS and their Commander, Akin Fakorede, who is known to have resisted every advances made by the governor to compromise the officer.
“We recall that Governor Wike has never hidden his disdain for the SARS Commander due to the officer’s principled and professional stance in rejecting the governor’s baits in the past two years. Governor Wike seems to have sworn to have Akin Fakorede compromised or transferred out of Rivers State to pave the way for a replacement that may play ball with him.”
However in his response, Governor Wike said the evidence against SARS involvement in the crimes was incontrovertible.
Speaking through the PDP Publicity secretary in the state, Mr Samuel Nwanosike, Wike said the APC’s fast reaction in coming to the defence of SARS made it culpable.
Nwanosike said, “From the position of the APC, the PDP has been vindicated that they (the APC members) are part of the crime. Instead of the SARS Commander (Fakorede) to react to their action that led to the killing of a police inspector, it is the APC that is reacting.
“It shows that Akin Fakorede is being sponsored by the APC in the state. We will not allow this matter to be swept under the carpet the way the issue of the printing of election result sheets was swept under the carpet. The inspector that was shot is a policeman. His wife is also a police woman attached to Elekahia Police Division.”