THE Rivers State Assembly under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo has called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the destruction of secretariat complexes and attacks on local government officials in the state.
Violent clashes erupted in at least four local government areas—with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premses set ablaze, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist the new council officials.
Addressing the House during the screening of four commissioner nominees, Oko-Jumbo challenged the police to live up to the expectation of protecting lives and properties. Violent clashes erupted in at least four local government areas—with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premses set ablaze, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist the new council officials.
The burning of LG secretariats followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police.
Though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police opted out of the exercise that produced the newly elected LG chairmen, Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted that the election be held on Saturday.
After an exercise held amid heightened tension, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the oil-rich state while the Action Alliance (AA) won a seat.
Fubara sworn in the 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday but some of the LG bosses were attacked upon assumption of office on Monday. Some council secretariats were also set ablaze by political opponents.
