President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate restoration of law and order, instructing the police to secure the affected areas and restore peace.
Tinubu gave the order in a statement on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy.
Violence has erupted across multiple local government secretariats in Rivers State, barely 24 hours after the withdrawal of police personnel ordered by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The chaos follows the swearing-in of newly elected LG chairmen by Governor Sim Fubara.
Suspected political thugs, allegedly loyal to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, launched coordinated attacks on Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Eleme, and Emohua LGAs on Monday. Armed with guns, the attackers barricaded council entrances and opened fire indiscriminately, sparking widespread fear and panic.
In Khana LGA’s Bori town, a deadly gunfight broke out between armed men and police officers, leaving one civilian fatally shot. Police have since recovered the body from the scene of the violent confrontation.
The chaos escalated in Eleme, where arsonists set fire to the local council building in a bid to prevent the newly elected chairman from assuming office.
