October 07, (THEWILL) – The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed the immediate withdrawal of Policemen from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police in a statement issued on Monday, by SP Grace Iringe-Koko.
THEWILL reports that the directive came three months after the IGP sealed the Secretariats in June after Governor Siminalayi Fubara appointed Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen to oversee the administration of 23 local councils in the State, following the expiration of the tenure of elected council officials on June 17, 2024.
Governor Fubara had on Saturday, accused the IGP of taking sides with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in the political crisis in Rivers State after a foiled attempt by the police to take over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Koko said the directive to unseal the Secretariats was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
“The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation continues to evolve”, she stated.
