Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, has accused the Airforce of diverting two armoured helicopters worth over $10 million it got from the state government.
The Governor said instead of using the helicopters to fight crude oil theft and sea piracy in the state, the air force diverted them to the north to fight Boko Haram.
The governor warned that the state would not hesitate to withdraw the gunboats it was about presenting to the Army, Navy, and Police if they deployed them in other states.
Wike spoke when he presented 29 operational vehicles to the police at the re-launch of the Rivers State security outfit codenamed, C.4.I, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday, April 1, 2021.
But the Nigeria Air Forces said it won’t join issues with Wike, dismissing his allegation as “mere political statement.”
He said: “Rivers State government paid over $10 million (for the armoured helicopters). We said it should be used to fight oil bunkers here, but ask me where are those helicopters today?
‘’The (Airforce) headquarters have taken them, saying they are fighting Boko Haram. But we bought it to fight criminals here, to fight oil bunkers here, but they have taken it.”
But Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said it was a political statement which he would not want to make any comment about.
He said: “There is no way you can join issues with Rivers State government and the NAF, these are political statements and I don’t want to make any comment about that.
“I will advise that you call our supervisors at the Ministry of Defence, they will be in a better place to help you”.
Source: The Nation
