44 of the spill incidents were traced to sabotage by vandals.”
The official noted that Mr Sylva would continue to work toward building harmony amongst Niger Delta leaders.
The statement has since generated furore online, keeping Mr Wike atop the Twitter trend table in Nigeria with attendant flaks.
Police say the explosive ordnance team of the police was immediately despatched to the scene to sweep and render the entire market safe.
An explosion, suspected to be dynamite, has rocked Rivers popular Mile 3 Market in the early hours of Monday.
Shell has been beset by myriads of challenges ranging from oil theft to pipeline sabotage, as well as agitations by local communities over oil spills.
A spokesman for Shell declined comments on the integrity of the frequently breached 14-inch Okordia-Rumekpe pipeline.
The police confirmed three separate attacks on personnel across the oil-rich state overnight.
Unidentified gunmen continue to target security bases for attack in what appears like a coordinated onslaught.
The development necessitated setting up of advocacy platforms as a strategy in the fight against the disease, an official said.
