Suspected hoodlums have set a section of the Eleme local government secretariat in Rivers state on fire.
The incident comes hours after Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariat of the 23 LGAs of the state.
Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, announced that the IGP’s directive “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force stance to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.”
The fire occurred just hours after Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers governor, swore in 23 newly elected local government chairpersons.
The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 LGAs in Saturday’s election, while the Action Alliance (AA) secured one LGA.
During the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, Fubara mentioned there were plans to perpetrate violence against the elected officials on Monday.
“I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters,” Fubara said.
“Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.
“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.
“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land.”
Tensions have been high in Rivers due to a prolonged turf war between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).
On October 3, a crowd besieged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, protesting against the LGA election.
Hours before voting commenced, an explosion reportedly rocked the secretariat of an All Progressives Congress (APC) faction led by Tony Okocha, the ex-chairman of the APC caretaker committee in the state.
On Saturday, police officers reportedly disrupted the local government election in Elekahia primary school, Port Harcourt.
