The Rivers State Police Command has taken control of all 23 local government council secretariats and critical infrastructure in the state to prevent further violence and breakdown of law and order. This move comes after clashes between supporters of different political factions over the tenure of local government chairmen resulted in the death of a policeman and a vigilante.

According to the police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, conventional and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities to maintain peace and order. The command warned that anyone intending to disrupt the peace would face the full weight of the law.

This development may put on hold the directive of the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for heads of local government administration to take charge of affairs in the 23 LG councils. The crisis began when some youths in Degema LG took over the council headquarters, and the local government chairmen under the aegis of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria vowed to remain in office, citing a law that empowers them to extend their tenure by six months.

Naijamatta is a social networking site,

download Naijamatta from Google play store or visit www.naijamatta.com to register. You can post, comment, do voice and video call, join and open group, go live etc. Join Naijamatta family, the Green app.