Police take over 23 Rivers LG offices as crises deepens

The Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in Rivers.

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.

SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson of the command, disclosed in a statement in Port Harcourt said that a police officer and a vigilante member lost their lives during a clash between two political groups.

“Operatives have been deployed to uphold peace in all the 23 Local Government Areas (LGA).

“The clash between the two political factions, sparked by disagreement over the chairmen’s tenures, resulted in the deaths of a police officer and a vigilante member in Eberi-Omuma community.

“Consequently, the police have taken over the 23 council secretariates and some critical government facilities to forestall further unrest and breakdown of law and order.

“To ensure order, the command has also deployed anti-riot police officers to the various council headquarters,” Iringe-Koko announced.

The police spokesperson cautioned partisan groups against defying the law and reassured residents of the command’s management of the situation in the LGAs headquarters.