Rivers Crisis: Policeman, Vigilante Member Killed As Youths Chase Out Pro-Wike LG Chairmen
A Police Officer was reportedly killed on Tuesday in Rivers State during the protest over the tenure of 23 local government chairmen.
The protest went bloody as the protesting youths loyal to the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, dislodged no fewer than three chairmen who refused to vacate their offices.
Osun Defender reports that the three-year tenure of the 23 chairmen expired on Monday but they had vowed to remain in office, citing the Local Government Amendment Law 2024 made by the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly.
The law by the 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike, empowers them to remain in office for six months due to the failure of Fubara to conduct local government elections.
READ: Rivers: Fubara Swears In Caretaker Committee Chairmen
The policeman was killed at Eberi-Omuma in the Omuma Local Government Council secretariat during a clash between supporters of Fubara and his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Also, a member of a local vigilante group was killed during the scuffle.
A source noted that a policeman attached to a politician in the Omuma LGA had allegedly shot the member of the vigilante group codenamed the Omuma Security Planning and Advisory Committee. The politician was in one of the groups that clashed at the council secretariat.
The source said the protesters attacked and killed the policeman in reprisal.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the death of the policeman and the vigilante.
She, however, did not disclose the cause of the death.
She said, “Yes, we lost a police officer and a vigilante member. Investigations are ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”
Meanwhile, the Police, Tuesday evening, announced the takeover of the 23 council secretariats to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday night by the spokesperson for the command, Grace Iringe-Koko.
The statement reads, “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.
“Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
