Armed thugs storm Rivers LG secretariat, chase chairman away

There were heavy gunshots at the Ikwere Council secretariat in Rivers on Monday.

Our correspondent gathered that the newly sworn-in chairman for the local council Isreal Abosi was chased away by the armed thugs.

There have also been protests in some local government secretariats in the state. The protesters were heard chanting, “No Wike, no Rivers State, no Wike, no Secretariat” in a viral video.

Our correspondent gathered there were also gunshots at Oyigbo, Khana, and Obio-Akpor Local Government secretariats as of the time of filing this report.

Residents and local government workers who expressed excitement over the reopening of the council and resumed work were seen scampering for safety.

Meanwhile, a security outfit in a statement advised residents to avoid council secretariats in the coming days for safety reasons.

Rivers State Govenor Siminalayi Fubara while swearing in the Council chairmen on Sunday, revealed plots by alleged enemies of the state to unleash violence on the newly sworn-in local government chairmen.

Fubara said he was aware that some groups were “mobilizing 20 people per political unit, instructed to attack the chairmen when they report to their various council secretariats to resume duties”.

He advised the chairmen not to confront the situation, should it happen, or fight anybody.

Earlier, the Rivers State Police Command ordered the unsealing of the secretariats and warned that officers would be redeployed to the secretariats should there be a breakdown of law and order.