Tensions have escalated in Rivers State as hoodlums, taking advantage of the withdrawal of police personnel, set ablaze at least two local government secretariats.
This development follows the recent directive by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, for the removal of police officers stationed at local government areas across the state. The violence began shortly after the swearing-in of newly elected council chairmen by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The secretariats of Eleme and Ikwerre Local Government Areas were among the first to be attacked on Monday morning, with reports indicating that thugs vandalised and torched the buildings.
Witnesses confirmed that parts of the Eleme secretariat were set on fire around 11 a.m., with attackers vowing to prevent the newly sworn-in chairman from accessing the office. In Ikwerre, the office of the chairman was similarly targeted, with arsonists reportedly protesting the legitimacy of Saturday’s elections.
The violence intensified in Emohua Local Government Area, where explosives were detonated at the secretariat shortly after newly elected Chairman David Omereji swore in his deputy and 14 councillors. The use of explosives, believed to be dynamite, caused significant damage to the council building and shattered property within the premises.
The unrest followed the police’s decision to withdraw from the secretariats, which had been sealed since July due to political instability in the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed that the secretariats were unsealed based on directives from the IGP.
“This decision reaffirms the Nigeria Police Force’s stance on neutrality and its dedication to ensuring the uninterrupted operation of democratic institutions,” the statement read.
The violence has raised concerns over political stability in the state, particularly as it coincides with the conclusion of the local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on Saturday.
Governor Fubara had sworn in the 23 elected council chairmen on Sunday, marking a significant political shift in the state. However, opposition groups, particularly those loyal to former Governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, have rejected the outcome of the elections, accusing the state government of rigging the process.
Reports suggest that a political group which opposed to the election results mobilised youths to block the newly-elected officials from entering their offices. This led to heavy gunfire in several local government areas, including Ikwerre, Khana, and Emohua, earlier in the day before the incidents of arson and bombings. In Khana, one person was killed during sporadic gunfire as thugs clashed on the road leading to the council secretariat.
Eyewitness accounts from Eleme indicated that the attackers deliberately targeted specific buildings within the secretariat complex. “They came with weapons and set fire to key sections of the secretariat. It was clear they wanted to stop the new chairman from taking control,” said a local resident.
Meanwhile, in other parts of Rivers State, violence erupted at additional local government secretariats. In Obio/Akpor, bottles were thrown during confrontations, while in Khana, clashes between supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the Action People’s Party, APP, led to violent protests. Unknown gunmen also reportedly chased the newly elected chairman of Ikwerre and his supporters out of the secretariat, further escalating the unrest.
Pro-Wike supporters in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area also took over the council secretariat, blocking the pro-Governor Fubara council chairman from accessing the premises. In contrast, Oyigbo Local Government Area remained relatively calm, with newly elected Executive Chairman, Dr. Gift Okere, taking immediate control of the secretariat after his swearing-in. Andoni council secretariat has so far been peaceful, with the chairman addressing supporters from his office.
In response to the violence, President Bola Tinubu on Monday condemned the destruction of public property in Rivers State and called on all political actors to de-escalate tensions.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President emphasised that “self-help has no place in a democratic system.” Tinubu urged Governor Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters to seek legal avenues to resolve disputes, stressing the importance of maintaining peace and upholding the rule of law.
“Government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism,” the President said, directing law enforcement agencies to restore peace and security to local government offices. “The judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception,” he added.
As the political landscape in Rivers State becomes increasingly volatile, concerns over further unrest remain high. The Rivers State Police Command has assured residents that it will maintain peace and order, stating that officers will only return to the secretariats if a security threat emerges.
The recent local government elections were dominated by the APP, which secured 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the state’s 23 LGAs, as announced by RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli. However, the outcome has been hotly contested, with the PDP faction loyal to Wike, as well as the All Progressives Congress, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party, all rejecting the results and vowing to challenge them in court.
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