Is it true that the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike has come under fire over the 2020 alleged genocide that took place in Oyigbo, Rivers State, during his time as governor of Rivers State?
Is it true that the US President, Donald Trump has ordered
international security agencies to place Wike under global surveillance, over the incident, as he was the one who brought in the soldiers that wreaked havoc on Oyigbo, leading to the killing of many people suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB?
TNN learnt that part of the reasons why the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu decided to list Wike among his witnesses during his trial at a federal high court in Abuja, was because of the former governor’s alleged role in the Oyigbo massacre.
But Kanu was to change his mind and did not call Wike or any other person again as his witness, before the trial ended.
In the last few days, there have been insinuations about Trump’s readiness to invade Nigeria in connection with the alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, a development that has unsettled the country’s leadership.
Among Christians said to have been killed in worrisome circumstances were those who died during the Oyigbo incident, when the then EndSARS riot gave rise to an implosion in Oyigbo, forcing the natives and residents to flee the area, as soldiers were alleged to be moving from house to house to kill.
Three police stations and a court building were burned down, while about six soldiers and three police officers were reported to have been killed in the area by suspected members of IPOB.
In response to the killings and destruction, Wike had imposed a 24-hour curfew and invited the Nigerian military to the area to restore order and “flush out IPOB”.
The subsequent military operation in Oyigbo led to numerous human rights abuse allegations. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) reported extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and house-to-house searches by soldiers.
There were reports that dead bodies were seen on the street and incessant gunshots fired during the curfew period. The Nigerian Army has since denied the allegations, stating their personnel were professional in the area, to restore peace.
But the new twist has been trending for sometime now, although TNN’s fact-check on Tuesday did not reveal any comment made by Trump against Wike anywhere.
Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, did not also respond to messages by TNN on the issue. He did not also answer calls made to his phone as at the time of filing this report.
