Police take over 23 LG secretariats in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has announced that it has taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats in the state.

A statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said, the decision followed the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in the State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen.

The statement said, consequently, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.

According to the statement, “To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities”.

The statement however, urged all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, warning anyone who intends to cause mayhem to desist as the police will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on such individuals.

“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property”. It added