Eleme Council Headquarters fire attack
By MAUREEN DICK and ERIC MOORE
SPORADIC gunshots happened in various council secretariats, in Rivers State, in a supremacy battle of control of local government areas between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Action People’s Party (APP).
The newly elected and sworn in council chairmen were to resume office following the withdrawal of policemen from the 23 council headquarters.
Ikwerre Local Government Area was torched by yet-to-be identified arsonists, as post local government election violence erupted in many parts of the state on Monday.
Earlier, anti-Fubara group from the LGA have raised the alarm, alleging that armed men suspected to be loyal to the state governor had started shooting to instil fear in the residents and gain entry to the council premises.
Also, unknown group of individuals have set the Emohua LGA headquarters on fire with explosive device suspected to be dynamite.
A similar violence was earlier recorded at the Eleme council headquarters, where some targeted buildings were set ablaze and furniture destroyed.
The fire outbreak occurred shortly after the Inspector-General of Police asked policemen, who initially sealed the secretariats to avoid violence, to withdraw from the facilities immediately.
Similarly, some persons were wounded as pro and anti-Fubara groups clashed in Ogu/Bolo LGA shortly after police unsealed the headquarters.
So far, no arrest has been made, and the police have yet to release official statement on the incident and other skirmishes in some parts of the state.