‘Hoodlums’ raze sections of Eleme, Ikwerre secretariats — hours after police unsealed Rivers LGA HQs

Suspected hoodlums have set sections of Eleme and Ikwerre local government secretariats in Rivers state on fire. 

The torching comes hours after Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariats of the 23 LGAs of the state.

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, who announced the development, said the IGP’s directive “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions”.

Reports say some of the newly elected chairpersons and councillors arrived the facilities to the sight of thick black smoke billowing from what should be their new offices.

There are also reports of widespread chaos in a raft of other LGA secretariats in Rivers, as new council bosses set out their stalls for governance.

BACKGROUND

On Sunday, Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, swore in 23 newly elected local government chairpersons.

The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 LGAs in Saturday’s election, while the Action Alliance (AA) was victorious in one LGA.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, Fubara said there were plans to perpetrate violence against the elected officials.

“I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters,” Fubara said.

“Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.

“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.

“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land.”

There has been palpable tension in Rivers due to the prolonged turf war between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

On October 3, a crowd besieged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, to protest against the LGA election.

Hours before commencement of voting, an explosion reportedly rocked the secretariat of an All Progressives Congress (APC) faction led by Tony Okocha, ex-chairman of the APC caretaker committee in the state.

On Saturday, Police officers reportedly disrupted the local government election in Elekahia primary school, Port Harcourt.