Security Reshuffle Sparks Unease as ‘Wike’s Men’ Are Moved from Rivers Government House

In a recent security shakeup in Rivers State, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at the Government House, Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s inherited from his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, have been redeployed, sparking disquiet and anxiety among stakeholders.

The changes, outlined in a signal issued by the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, dated October 31, 2023, have seen police officers who served under Wike and continued their roles in Fubara’s administration reassigned to different units within the law enforcement agency in the state. This move has raised concerns and tensions within the political landscape of the state.

One of the most notable redeployments is that of Promise Nwosu, formerly Wike’s CSO, who now heads the Special Protection Unit (SPU) code-named Base 6 of the Rivers Command. The SPU was established by the police in 2009 to bolster security for VIPs and diplomats.

This reshuffling comes in the wake of allegations that Governor Fubara removed Nwosu as his CSO during a period marked by an impeachment plot against him, fueling speculation of a power struggle.

Other police officers considered loyal to Wike, including Irikefe London Owen, a former Camp Commandant of the Rivers Government House, and Emmanuel Nwakanma, have been reassigned to head the Rivers Police Command Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and ‘Operation Sting,’ respectively. ‘Operation Sting’ was a special police outfit initiated by Wike in 2019 to combat security challenges in the state.

While the reassignment of these police officers out of the Government House is seen as a relief for Governor Fubara and his supporters, their placement in critical police units has raised concerns. Sources close to the Governor suspect that this move might be an attempt to control the security apparatus in Rivers State to facilitate an impeachment process against Fubara.

This development follows a recent incident where Governor Fubara accused “compromised” officers from the Rivers Command, led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, of using tear gas and live ammunition against him while he was en route to the burnt Rivers House of Assembly. The unfolding situation continues to draw attention and speculation about the power dynamics in the state.