GOVERNOR Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State has vowed to take the fight against crime and terrorism in the state to the camps of militants.
He said at Obiokpor that he would not wait for hoodlums to unleash fresh terror on the state.
He spoke as gunmen suspected to be assassins killed a senior lecturer at the University of Benin, Mr. Obazue Maxwell, in Benin on Boxing Day.
He was shot in the presence of his wife and only child, a girl.
Governor Amaechi speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Chief Nyesom Wike, at St. Peter’s Church, Obiokpor said his administration would not hesitate to deal with anyone identified to be sponsoring militants in the state no matter how highly placed.
But he also solicited the patience and understanding of the people, saying government was determined to take the state to the highest level possible.
“Give us time, we are working hard to realise our vision for the state,� he said.
Also speaking, Chef Wike thanked God for sparing his life after he was attacked by gunmen on December 2, 2007.
Gunmen kill varsity don
Mr Obazee Maxwell, Agriculture lecturer, was shot in the presence of his wife and their only child. The hoodlums said to be five in number, had waited for him at his Upper Mission Road residence, Benin and shot him at close range as he arrived from an outing.
It was learnt that the killers arrived the area at about 7:30 p.m. and waited at a nearby bar for several hours before the victim and his family arrived. He died while he was being rushed to the Benin Central Hospital by sympathisers.
His widow told newsmen in Benin that when she stepped out of the car to open the gate for her husband, two boys suddenly appeared and demanded the car keys from her husband.
�He gave them the keys but the car refused to start. So they said he must start the car but when he could not do that because he was already confused, one of the men collected his wallet containing his ID card and shot him immediately,� she said.
The Edo State Police spokesman, ASP Peter Ogboi, who confirmed the incident, said detectives had been assigned to investigate the murder, explaining that the police could only know the motive of the crime after investigations.