Tension in Rivers as Police Confirm Killing of Officer, Vigilante, Take Over 23 LG Secretariats

• The police in Rivers state have announced the taking over of the 23 local government secretariats in the state
• This followed the killing of a police officer and a vigilante in the attacks on the secretariats and the council chairmen
• Governor Fubara earlier directed the chairmen to hand over to the most senior staff in their council, but the chairmen claimed their tenures were extended by the state house of assembly

TheTalk.NG journalist Bada Yusuf is an accomplished politics and current affairs editor, boasting over seven years of experience in journalism and writing.

Port Harcourt, Rivers – The Rivers state police command has confirmed that one of its officers was killed in the ongoing political crisis in the state.

The security agency also announced the taking over of the state’s 23 local government area secretariats.

Police in Rivers take over LGA secretariats
Photo Credit: @RiversPoliceNG, @SimFubaraKSCSource: Twitter

Police take over Rivers LG secretariats

According to Daily Trust, Grace Iringe Koko, the state’s police spokesperson, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday, June 18.

The police attributed the move to the breakdown of law and order in the various secretariats of the LGAs.

Earlier in the day, youths purportedly loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara invaded the council following the expiration of the tenure of the council chairmen.

The council chairmen had said they would not vacate their offices because the Rivers state house of assembly extended their tenure by six months.

Governor Fubara directs council chairmen to handover

Fubara had earlier directed the council chairmen to handover to the heads of administration in their respective offices.

After the governor’s order, those reportedly loyal to him stormed the LGA secretariats, leading to violence in some places.

A police officer and a vigilante were killed in the incident at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA.

The police spokesperson said the move to take over the councils was to forestall the further breakdown of law and orders in the 23 LGA secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.

Rivers: Why Wike is a sleeping lion

TheTalk.NG earlier reported that Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers state and current minister of the FCT, was described as a sleeping tiger.

Okanlawon Gaffar, an analyst who commented on the political crisis in Rivers, said the former governor could be silent, but that did not mean Fubara had defeated him.

Proofreading by James Ojo Adakole, journalist and copy editor at TheTalk.NG.

Source: TheTalk.NG

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