Rivers crisis worsens as ‘hoodlums’ set ablaze third LG secretariat in 24 hours

Suspected hoodlums have set ablaze a section of Emohua local government secretariat in Rivers state.

This is the third local government secretariat that was torched by hoodlums on Monday.

Earlier, some irate youths set sections of Eleme and Ikwerre local government secretariats in the state on fire.

TheCable understands that the mob invaded the Emohua LGA secretariat after David Omereji, the newly elected chair, his deputy and councillors were sworn in on Sunday.

After the ceremony, hoodlums invaded many Rivers LGA secretariats to cause destruction and prevent newly elected officials from resuming their duties.

Some of the newly elected chairpersons and councillors arrived at their new offices to the sight of thick black smoke.

At Obio/Akpor LGA, hoodlums invaded the secretariat and started shooting sporadically to scare away workers.

In a video seen by TheCable, the hoodlums were repelled by armed police officers.

The destruction 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

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.

Fubara’s loyalists joined APP to secure the party’s tickets to contest the election.

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

The crisis in the state is connected to the feud between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory.

CONTROVERSIAL LG POLLS

The build-up to the Rivers LGA elections was trailed by controversy which was exacerbated by conflicting court orders and pushback from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

On September 4, a high court in Rivers state held that RSIEC could conduct the LGA elections using the 2023 voter register.

But on September 30, a federal high court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to RSIEC.

The court also barred the inspector-general of police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from providing security for the elections.

Despite the federal high court ruling and the withdrawal of security personnel, Fubara said the election would proceed as planned.