The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has said the curfew imposed over the attacks on security formations and personnel in the state will remain in place despite sponsored criticism against it.

He said the government was mindful of the traffic difficulty experienced by residents trying to beat the 8:30pm, added that it was better to suffer inconveniences and be alive.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, at the 60th birthday celebration of the federal lawmaker who represents Rivers South East district in the Senate, Senator Barry Mpigi, in Port Harcourt, the governor defended the reason the curfew can not be lifted now.

“Some criminals who have not been succeeding in kidnapping, have been sending people to go on radio to say the governor should be reasonable, and that they don’t want the curfew again.

“Criminals are the ones who are doing that. I will not agree. Life and property are important for me. All those criminals who have been sending people to go on the radio that they are suffering and that we should extend the curfew to 12am, to enable them to kidnap people from 7 pm, will not succeed. Don’t waste your time,” he stated.

Wike explained that the imposition of the curfew was based on security advice by law enforcement agencies, as a precaution to prevent further attacks on security formations in the State.

He enjoined residents and people of the State to learn how to make sacrifices, suffer the inconveniences of today to achieve a better tomorrow, saying, “I want all of us to be alive to take care of our children.”