No fewer than five persons were feared dead yesterday following gunfire at various local government council secretariats in Rivers State by armed thugs. Newly sworn-in chairmen of some of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) were also forced to flee their offices as the marauding thugs disrupted operations.
In response to the violence, President Bola Tinubu directed the police to provide security for the local government officials and to restore and maintain peace, law and order immediately. The president emphasized the importance of securing public institutions and instructed law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control.
While the Police in Rivers State have not yet issued an official statement on the attacks, the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, stated that the police would not engage in a media conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the political crisis in the state.
The continued shootings at some of the LGA secretariats have caused widespread fear and panic in the surrounding communities. As of noon yesterday, reports indicated that at least five persons had been killed, and four LG secretariats were set on fire.
It was gathered that when the newly appointed LG chairmen, who were sworn in on Sunday, arrived at the council secretariats, they encountered numerous youths opposing their election at the LGA headquarters. According to Vanguard, some of these youths claimed they were present to clean up the premises for the former council chairmen whose tenure had ended.
However, tensions escalated, leading to gunfire, during which several individuals sustained bullet wounds, and five people reportedly died. An eyewitness reported to Vanguard that one person was gunned down at Khana LGA, three at Oyibo LGA, and one was killed at Ahoada-East LGA.
I think the solution is to arm everyone at the secretariats for self-defense. Its a crazy idea, but it might just work.
This violence in Rivers State is a result of deeper issues. Maybe its time to look beyond just blaming guns.
I think its time we consider arming government officials for self-defense. Its a crazy world out there. Safety first!
I think its time we reconsider the whole concept of government secretariats. Maybe theyre just attracting trouble. #JustSaying 🤷♂️
I think its time we consider arming local government officials to protect themselves. Safety should come first. #controversialopinion
Arming officials is a slippery slope. Focus on de-escalation and community trust. #safetyfirst
I wonder if more guns in the hands of civilians would actually decrease violence in situations like this.
I think its time we reconsider the role of armed security guards in government buildings. Maybe less guns, more dialogue? 🤔
I think its time we start considering arming civilians to defend themselves in situations like this. Safety first, right?
Arming civilians only escalates violence. Proper gun control and de-escalation training are crucial.
I dont get why people still think more guns will solve gun violence. Its like fighting fire with fire.
More guns wont solve gun violence, it will only make the problem worse. We need stricter regulations.
I think we should arm all local government officials for self-defense. Its better to be safe than sorry. Thoughts?
Bad idea. More guns doesnt equal more safety. Training and non-violent solutions are better.
I think this violence is a result of poor leadership and lack of accountability. There needs to be serious consequences for those responsible.
Do you think arming civilians would deter public shootings or just escalate violence? Lets discuss! #GunControl #ControversialOpinion
Arming civilians increases risk of accidents and misuse. Stricter gun control is the solution. #SafetyFirst
This violence is getting out of hand. Maybe its time to consider arming civilians for self-defense in these dangerous situations.
Arming civilians will only escalate the violence. We need better solutions.
I think its time we consider arming government officials for self-defense. Better safe than sorry, right? Just a thought.
I dont get why people are still arguing about gun control. Its obvious we need stricter laws to prevent tragedies like this.
Mind your own business. Some of us value our rights and freedom.
I think its time we consider arming local government officials for self-defense. Better safe than sorry, right? #ControversialOpinion
Absolutely not. Arming officials will only escalate tensions and lead to more violence. #PeacefulSolutions
I think its time we consider arming government secretariats with security personnel to prevent such tragedies. Safety first!
I wonder if stricter gun control laws would actually prevent incidents like this, or just disarm law-abiding citizens. Thoughts?
Gun control saves lives by preventing access to weapons for those who shouldnt have them.
I think its time to consider arming civilians to protect themselves in such dangerous situations. Self-defense matters too.
I think we need stricter gun control laws to prevent tragedies like this. Its time for action. #GunControlNow 🚫🔫
Guns dont kill people, people do. Criminals dont follow laws. #2ndAmendment 🇺🇸🔫
I think its time to consider arming civilians for self-defense in situations like this. Thoughts? 🤔 #controversialopinion
Arming civilians wont solve the issue and may lead to more violence. Seek non-violent solutions. #safetyfirst
I think we should arm all government officials in Rivers State to defend themselves. Its a dangerous world out there.
This incident just proves the need for stricter gun control laws. Enough with the senseless violence already.
I think the real issue here is the lack of proper mental health support for those resorting to violence.
This violence is out of control. Maybe its time to arm the citizens for self-defense? Just a thought.
Arming citizens will only escalate violence. We need solutions that address root causes.