By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
Barely three hours after the Rivers State Police Command introduced the unsealing of beforehand closed native authorities secretariats, violence erupted in a number of areas, resulting in arson, shootings, and fatalities.
On Monday morning, a bit of the Eleme Native Authorities Space secretariat was set on hearth shortly after the arrival of newly elected chairman Brian Gokpa, accompanied by councilors and supporters. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers intentionally focused particular buildings inside the complicated, inflicting intensive injury. The precise motivation behind the assault stays unclear.
The secretariats had been sealed since June, following a political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political ally, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.
The closures compelled caretaker chairmen appointed by Fubara to function from various places. Regardless of Wike’s efforts to dam them, native authorities elections had been held on October 5, 2024, resulting in the swearing-in of latest chairmen by Governor Fubara the subsequent day.
Earlier within the day, the Rivers State Police Command, in an announcement, confirmed the choice to unseal the secretariats based mostly on directives from Inspector Normal of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
Newly deployed Commissioner of Police Bala Mustapha relayed the IGP’s order to withdraw police personnel stationed on the secretariats to make sure neutrality and the graceful functioning of democratic processes. The police emphasised they might solely return if a safety risk emerged.
Whereas the police urged residents to stay calm and warranted them of sustaining peace, the assault on the Eleme secretariat has raised considerations in regards to the safety of different native authorities workplaces as newly elected officers start to imagine their roles.
In Khana Native Authorities Space, one individual was reported killed throughout sporadic gunfire on the street resulting in the Rector’s Lodge.
Violence additionally erupted in Obio/Akpor LGA, the place bottles had been thrown throughout a confrontation, though the police efficiently contained the state of affairs.
In Bori, members of the PDP and the Motion Folks’s Celebration (APP) clashed in a protest at Khana Council Secretariat, following the withdrawal of police from the world.
In Ikwerre LGA, unknown gunmen reportedly chased the newly elected chairman and his supporters out of the secretariat.
Professional-Wike supporters have additionally taken over the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Native Authorities Secretariat, stopping the pro-Governor Fubara council chairman from accessing the workplace.
In the meantime, in Oyigbo LGA, Government Chairman Dr. Present Okere has taken management of the council secretariat, with administrative actions commencing instantly following the swearing-in of the vice chairman and 10 elected councilors.
Andoni LGA stays peaceable for the second, with the council chairman addressing supporters from his workplace on the secretariat in Ngo.
In Ahoada East, preliminary makes an attempt by pro-Wike teams to dam entry to the secretariat had been dislodged after a severe taking pictures incident, leaving three folks injured with bullet wounds.
The escalating violence throughout a number of secretariats underscores the deep political divide in Rivers State and has raised considerations about additional unrest because the newly elected officers try to take workplace.