Air Force Diverted Rivers $10m Helicopters — Wike

* NAF: We Won’t Join Issues With You

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Airforce of
diverting two armoured helicopters worth over $10million it got
from the state government.

The Governor said instead of using the helicopters to fight
crude oil theft and sea piracy in the state, the air force diverted
them to the north to fight Boko Haram.

The governor warned that the state would not hesitate to
withdraw the gunboats it was about presenting to the Army, Navy and
Police if they deployed them in other states.

Wike spoke when he presented 29 operational vehicles to the
police at the re-launch of the Rivers State security outfit
codenamed, C.4.I, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on
Thursday.

But the Nigeria Air Forces said it won’t join issues with Wike,
dismissing his allegation as “mere political statement.”

He said: “Rivers State government paid over $10million (for the
armoured helicopters). We said it should be used to fight oil
bunkers here, but ask me where are those helicopters today?

‘’The (Airforce) headquarters have taken them, saying they are
fighting Boko Haram. But we bought it to fight criminals here, to
fight oil bunkers here, but they have taken it.”

But Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air
Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said it was a political
statement which he would not want to make any comment about.

He said: “There is no way you can join issues with Rivers State
government and the NAF, these are political statements and I don’t
want to make any comment about that.

“I will advise that you call our supervisors at the Ministry of
Defence, they will be in a better place to help you”.

* NAF: We Won’t Join Issues With You

Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Airforce of
diverting two armoured helicopters worth over $10million it got
from the state government.

The Governor said instead of using the helicopters to fight
crude oil theft and sea piracy in the state, the air force diverted
them to the north to fight Boko Haram.

The governor warned that the state would not hesitate to
withdraw the gunboats it was about presenting to the Army, Navy and
Police if they deployed them in other states.

Wike spoke when he presented 29 operational vehicles to the
police at the re-launch of the Rivers State security outfit
codenamed, C.4.I, at the Government House, Port Harcourt on
Thursday.

But the Nigeria Air Forces said it won’t join issues with Wike,
dismissing his allegation as “mere political statement.”

He said: “Rivers State government paid over $10million (for the
armoured helicopters). We said it should be used to fight oil
bunkers here, but ask me where are those helicopters today?

‘’The (Airforce) headquarters have taken them, saying they are
fighting Boko Haram. But we bought it to fight criminals here, to
fight oil bunkers here, but they have taken it.”

But Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air
Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said it was a political
statement which he would not want to make any comment about.

He said: “There is no way you can join issues with Rivers State
government and the NAF, these are political statements and I don’t
want to make any comment about that.

“I will advise that you call our supervisors at the Ministry of
Defence, they will be in a better place to help you”.