All the 23 local council secretariats in Rivers State have been taken over by the police.

Youths and party enthusiasts have thus been warned not to come anywhere near the council secretariats.

According to Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), this is sequel to the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in the state where the police said supporters of the two political factions (the Nyesom Wike and the Sim Fubara factions) clashed over the tenure of local government council chairmen.

The police in a statement Tuesday June 18, 2024, evening said 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, she stated, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.

She said 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 PPRO said the Command also was warding off anyone intending to cause mayhem, saying the police would 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.”

Fracas spread almost all the LGAs in the state Tuesday, June 18, 2024, when clashes occurred as a result of the supremacy fight between the Wike and the Fubara camps.

The tenures of the council chairmen expired Monday, June 17, 2024, but the chairman said they got extra six months from the factional House of Assembly to stay on.

The case is now in court and hearing would resume on June 20, 2024. (BusinessDay, excluding headline)

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