Rivers Crisis: Cop, Vigilante Killed, as Police Take Over Councils
From MAUREEN DICK and ERIC MOORE, Port Harcourt
Two persons including a police personnel and an OSPAC (a local vigilance group) member have been shot dead in Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday.
Though, the state Police Command has not reacted to the report of death of its personnel and OSPAC, it was gathered that they died following bullet wounds the sustained when confrontation erupted between pro and anti-Fubara groups at the council headquarters.
Community sources claimed that pro-Siminalayi Fubara youths defied presence of security agencies who were at the council to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order, to stop former council chairman from entering the council.
Similar violence erupted in several local government councils as protesting youths said they wanted to ensure the eviction of council chairmen, whose tenure expired on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Earlier, there were heavy gunshots in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State on Tuesday.
It could not be ascertained if the shootings were between security men and armed youths, or pro and anti-governor’s supporters, who stormed the council headquarters.
It was reported that, at the Obio/Akpor council headquarters, the surging hoodlums attacked the chairman, George Ariolu and smashed the windscreen of his Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
At Obio/Akpor council headquarters, youths suspected to be against tenure elongation of the 23 LGA chairmen, destroyed the sculpture of the former governor and Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police (SP), denied the involvement of policemen in the shooting.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has taken over the Obio/Akpor council headquarters, to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the area.
In a similar development, youths of Eleme Local Government Area of the State earlier occupied their Council Secretariat, stating that the governor is the only authority they know.
The youths stormed the council secretariat after the governor’s statewide broadcast directing Heads of Local Government Administration to take over the leadership of the 23 LGAs in the state.
It was gathered that they chased away all agents that are opposed to the directive issued by the governor.
The youths in their hundreds moved round the council premises stating that they would not allow anyone take away what belonged to the council.
Similarly, Police have beefed security in the 23 LGAs, especially at the council headquarters and at the Government House.
It was discovered that security operatives have dispersed youths from the various council headquarters positioning their patrol vans at strategic places.
About 20 security agencies’ vehicles were sighted in front of Government House, Port Harcourt.
Ends.