In response to escalating violence over the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors, the police yesterday retained control of the 23 local government secretariats in Rivers State.
This action followed Tuesday’s clashes, which led to the deaths of three individuals: Police Inspector David Mgbads, vigilante member Samuel Nwigwe, and former student leader Endwell Ejindu.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s appointment of caretaker chairmen ignited the violence, with protesting council members demanding tenure extensions. Both groups were denied access to the secretariats by the police, who aimed to prevent further disorder.
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has ordered an investigation into the deaths, deploying the Force Intelligence Response Team (IRT) to assist the Rivers State Command in apprehending the killers. Egbetokun emphasised a zero-tolerance stance towards attacks on police and security operatives.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State to restore order, describing the state as “at war.” APC Caretaker Chairman Tony Okocha argued that only military intervention could ensure peace.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the former chairmen to accept the end of their tenure and avoid actions that could disrupt public peace. The PDP criticised the APC’s state of emergency call as an attempt to destabilise the state.
Governor Fubara defended the appointment of caretaker committees, stating that extending the tenure of the former chairmen would set a dangerous precedent. He directed the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of the 23 councils and report within a month, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Despite the closure of the secretariats, Fubara assured that the caretaker chairmen had effectively taken control of the councils and urged them to avoid confrontation. He instructed them to operate from any location and to prioritise paying the outstanding financial benefits of the outgoing officials.
The Court of Appeal will address the Rivers State crisis today, consolidating cases related to the dispute. The police remain stationed at the secretariats to prevent further violence and maintain peace.
