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Rivers crisis: Police take over 23 LG secretariats
According to the police, the measure was taken to prevent more bloodshed and a collapse of law and order because the situation had developed under the mandate of the departing local government chairmen.
According to the Rivers State Police Command, the state’s 23 local government councils and a few vital pieces of infrastructure in the gas and oil-rich state have been taken over.
According to the police, the measure was taken to prevent more bloodshed and a collapse of law and order because the situation had developed under the mandate of the departing local government chairmen.
This was revealed in a statement released on Tuesday night by Grace Iringe-Koko, the state Police Command spokesman.
Iringe-Koko also attested to the murder of a local vigilante group member and a police officer.
The statement reads, “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.
“Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.”
Iringe-Koko stressed that anyone with the intention of disrupting peace in the state would face the full wrath of the law.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
With this development, the directive of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to heads of local government administration to take charge of affairs of the 23 LG council may be kept on hold.
On Monday, some youths in the Degema LG of the state took over the council headquarters and locked the entrance as LG chairmen in the state under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 House of Assembly members empowering them to extend their tenure by six months.
