The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has accused the Nigerian Army of violently disrupting the recruitment exercise and training of members of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps in the State.
He said the Nigerian Army claimed that the exercise was illegal in spite of the court ruling that upheld constitutionality of the Neighbourhood Safety Corps
Wike lamented that the Army refused to allow the Neighbourhood Safety Corps carry out its recruitment and training of personnel
According to him “the Rivers State Government enacted the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps Law, No. 8of 2018 which establishes the Rivers state Neighbourhood Safety Corps Agency as a corporate body and vested with power to establish uniformed Neighbourhood Safety Corps
“In the 23 Local government Areas of the State and to prescribe regulations guiding the operations of the Safety Corps and any other Local government vigilante group in the State.
“In furtherance of this law, recruitment and training of members of the uninformed Neighbourhood Safety Corps commenced at the NYSC orientation camp , Nonwa in Tai LGA, after obtaining all necessary approvals from the Nigerian Army and other relevant security agencies.
“But, unfortunately, the exercise was violently disrupted by the Nigerian Army , claiming it was illegal and unconstitutional.
“Despite a competent court of jurisdiction recent ruling that upheld the constitutionality of the Rivers state Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Army has refused to allow it carry out its recruitment and training of personne”l, Wike lamented.
