By ERIC MOORE
RIVERS State Police Command has dismissed the allegation by Governor Siminalayi Fubara that Force personnel came to the State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to cart away sensitive electoral materials for the Saturday local government election.
The Command, in a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), policemen from the Rivers State Government House earlier deployed to RSIEC were withdrawn in response to a Federal High Court order, barring Police from participating in the election.
According to the statement, the Command got credible information of plot by miscreants to burn the place and swiftly deployed policemen to secure the RSIEC office.
The statement read: “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to the incident of today (Friday), where the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, alleged that the Police in Rivers State were at the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to cart away sensitive electoral materials meant for the Local Government Elections.
“It should be noted that policemen from the Rivers State Government House were initially deployed to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), but were withdrawn in response to the Federal High Court ruling of September 30, 2024, barring the Police from participating in the scheduled elections.
“Conversely, in reaction to credible and actionable intelligence received about plans by hoodlums to carry out an arson attack on the RSIEC office, Police personnel were deployed to secure the premises.
“The Rivers State Police Command remains committed to our duty to maintain the peace and ask residents of Rivers State to act within the confines of the law. The Police will do everything to maintain law and order.”