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.
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