“All of you criminals that are here, take today 2nd of June 2021, repent,” Wike said while addressing youths in Ahoada area of Rivers State.

“If you don’t repent, the period has come, you will die. Your parents will not bury you.

“We will bury you like vultures…either your hand will cut off or they will blow your head off. Your parents will not even know that you’re dead.

Wike threat was in response to heightened secessionist calls by IPOB members who are allegedly causing unrest in the southeast region of Nigeria.

The Rivers governor in May warned the secessionist group from imposing their sit-at-home orders in the state because “we are not in the southeast. Rivers State is south-south and they (IPOB) cannot try it here.”

IPOB’s sit-at-home order enjoyed total compliance in many southeast states with economic activities and human movements put on halt for 24-hours in honour of what the secessionist group declared as a day to remember their fallen heroes during the Nigeria civil war.

But the Rivers State governor, who proscribed IPOB in October 2020, mocked the secessionist group, saying that they will keep dying.

“When people say IPOB, they are carrying Juju (charms), no problem,” Wike said. “That’s what you’re saying…but what is happening? Are they not dying? So let nobody deceive you with that juju. Don’t ever you.”

The governor also warned criminals in the state to repent before they will be caught and dealt with.

Announcing IPOB’s proscription in 2020, Wike said the state government will neither accept nor allow any individual or group from within and outside to violate the peace, endanger lives and property under any guise.

Wike said Rivers State government “is opposed to the presence and activities of the legally proscribed and anarchic IPOB and whatever it stands for in Rivers State.”

“And so, let it be understood that we have nothing against all or any specific tribe and will continue to live in peace with people of all other tribal extractions residing or doing business in Rivers State,” Wike said.

“This is clearly a terrorist group which existence, creed, mission, and activities are strongly denounced even by the government and peoples of South-Eastern states of the country.”