Amidst a political crisis and impeachment plot against Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Nigerian Police Force has deployed Promise Wosu, a former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to lead the Special Protection Unit (SPU) tagged Base 6 in Rivers State, according to signals obtained by SaharaReporters.
Promise Wosu’s deployment to head the special unit came shortly after he was sacked from his position as the CSO to the current Rivers Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. This move is believed to be linked to the efforts of some members of the State House of Assembly, who are allegedly acting on the directive of former Governor Nyesom Wike to impeach Fubara.
The SPU, now under Nwosu’s command, was established in 2009 with the purpose of enhancing security for Very Important Persons (VIPs) and diplomats.
In addition to Promise Wosu, two other loyalists and former aides of the FCT minister in the police force have been deployed to head the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and ‘Operation Sting.’ They are Irikefe London Owen, a former Camp Commandant of Rivers Government House, and Emmanuel Nwakanme.
Operation Sting was introduced as a special state security outfit by Nyesom Wike during his tenure as the governor of Rivers State.
Sources have suggested that these deployments are part of a strategy to consolidate control over the security apparatus in Rivers State in favor of the FCT Minister and to facilitate the potential impeachment of Governor Fubara.
A senior police officer stated, “Barrister Nyesom Wike, Minister of FCT, had imposed the sacked CSO, Promise Wosu, Camp Commandant of Government House, Irikefe London, and Emmanuel Nwakanma to head police tactical squads in Rivers State. This is to give way for easy impeachment of his successor Fubara. They are to head CTU, SPU, and Operation Sting in Rivers State.”
A signal, signed by AIG Olarewaju Yomi Oladimeji, Police Force Secretary and dated October 31st, 2023, confirmed the posting of these senior officers to the various tactical units.
The political situation in Rivers State escalated to a crisis when the State House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, who took office in May after Nyesom Wike’s eight-year double terms. The governor is facing allegations of gross misconduct unbecoming of his office.
In recent events, a section of the assembly complex was damaged by fire, and there were speculations that the incident was orchestrated to prevent lawmakers from proceeding with impeachment proceedings against Fubara. When the governor visited the assembly complex to inspect the damage, his convoy was shot at and teargassed by policemen.
In an attempt to resolve the crisis, President Bola Tinubu has met with both Governor Fubara and Nyesom Wike.
