Police Takes Over 23 Rivers LG Secretariats As Crisis Spreads
The Rivers State Police Command has stated that it has taken over the 23 local government councils in the state as well as some critical infrastructure in the oil and gas-rich state.
The police said the action was to curb further bloodbath as well as a breakdown of law and order as a result of the spread of the crisis over the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen.
The spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed this in a statement issued on Tuesday night.
Iringe-Koko also confirmed the killing of a policeman and a member of a local vigilante outfit.
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.
Iringe-Koko maintained 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.
