BREAKING: Police take over all 23 local government council secretariats in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has taken over the control of all the 23 local government council secretariats.

This follows reported violent clashes across various council secretariats.

Trouble started a few hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara ordered Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs) to take over the council areas after the tenure of the elected chairmen, vice chairmen, and council members ended.  

Clashes between supporters of the governor and the former chairmen led to the death of a police officer and a vigilante member at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma Local Government Area.

Concerning the development, a statement released Tuesday evening by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Grace Iringe Koko said: “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. 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.”