Egbetokun orders police to unseal LGAs headquarters in Rivers
The order came after Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, sworn in 23 newly elected LGA chairmen in the state.
Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), has directed the police command in Rivers to unseal all the 23 LGAs headquarters in the state after the election and swearing in of new chairmen.
The order came after Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers, sworn in 23 newly elected LGA chairmen in the state.
The swearing-in was held at the executive council chambers of the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted the LGA election.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson in Rivers, announced the development in a statement issued on Monday morning.
Iringe-Koko said Mustapha Bala, the new commissioner of police in Rivers, conveyed the directive of the IGP for the immediate withdrawal of all personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the council secretariats in the state.
The LGAs headquarters were sealed in June following the disagreement between the caretaker committee chairmen loyal to Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).
“In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state,” the statement reads.
“This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
“The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties.
“We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation evolves.”
