…“I won’t allow my supporters to be arrested”, Fubara vows
Rivers State Police Command says 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 State Police Command’s Spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday night.
The Police said the action was to forestall further bloodbath as well as a breakdown of law and order due to the spread of the crisis over the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen.
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. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities”.
Iringe-Koko stressed 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.
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 councils may be kept on hold.
Recall that on Monday, some youths in the Degema LG of the state took over the council headquarters and locked the entrance as LG chairmen in the state under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law by the Martin Amaewhule-led 27 House of Assembly members empowering them to extend their tenure by six months.
Meanwhile, the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that he will fearlessly lead the way to ensure that peace continued to prevail in the State while also protecting all patriotic supporters for their stand on the path of truth.
Fubara made the vow while addressing newsmen, shortly after rising from a State Security Council meeting with heads of the security agencies at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
He emphasised that no grand plan to arrest such patriotic supporters on trumped-up charges will be tolerated.
The Governor stated that there is no extension of tenure of elected local government Chairmen, adding that the law is unambiguous on it, clarifying that the court has also affirmed the position of the law.
