The Rivers State Police Commissioner, Dandaura Mustapha has been redeployed on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, .
Mustapha is replaced by Joseph Gobum Mukari.
Reports say the change in the Rivers State police leadership may not be unconnected with recent alterations between the State Governor, Nyesom Wike and some top top companies operating in the state. The companies include ExonMobil and Carveton.
The Governor had ordered the arrest and prosecution of pilots and passengers of Carveton Helicopters who defied his lockdown order and flew into the state.
Also arrested on the orders of the governor, were 22 workers of ExxonMobil. They were said to have arrived the state from Akwa Ibom.
However, Wike said on Friday that the ExxonMobil MD wrote him an apology note from the US. In the note, he gave a commitment to ensure the governor’s orders are no longer flouted. The arrested staff were thereafter let go.
In addition to the redeployed Rivers State Police Commissioner is Commissioner of Police Musa Adze who will henceforth, head the Anti Fraud Unit of the state command.
The state governor had remained adamant in the face if pressures from the presidency to apply leniency in handling the arrested persons.
He insisted he was elected to serve and protect Rivers people and would therefore not take orders from Abuja. According to him, the lockdown law must apply to everyone equally, irrespective of status.
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