Former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has defended his record on security during his tenure as governor, insisting that criminal activities such as kidnapping and militancy were decisively tackled under his administration.
Amaechi, who is also a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV News on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, while reacting to the worsening insecurity across parts of the country.
Speaking on recent attacks and abductions involving schoolchildren and teachers, the former governor maintained that such incidents would not have been tolerated during his time in office.
When asked whether militancy existed during his administration in Rivers State, Amaechi admitted that the problem was present but said his government acted decisively against it. “They were there but you had to eradicate them. They were eliminated,” he said.
Amaechi stressed that kidnappers and criminal gangs operated under severe pressure during his administration, adding that he could not have allowed criminals to abduct children without swift consequences. “You can’t kidnap children when I was governor and I let you go. For Christ sake I can’t let you go. I won’t sleep. In my time? Nobody,” he stated.
The former minister attributed the current wave of insecurity partly to economic hardship, unemployment, and widespread poverty, arguing that desperation among citizens has contributed to rising criminal activities. “First, the economy is down and out. There’s no employment. Nobody’s been employed,” he said.
Amaechi also alleged that the country’s wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few individuals while ordinary Nigerians continue to struggle. “Only one family, I can only remember about 40 thieves. So what you have is that people are hungry, people are dying. On the streets, people are just dropping dead,” he added.
During the interview, the presenter referenced disturbing incidents in Oyo State, including reports of a teacher allegedly being slaughtered and beheaded, describing the development as heartbreaking.
In response, Amaechi again insisted that his administration would have responded swiftly to such crimes. “I’m telling you, not under my watch. When I was governor, those guys wouldn’t go free. Three, four days we have arrested them. Three, four days. I’m not joking,” he said….See More
