Former Council Chairmen from 21 of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State staged protests on Monday at their respective council headquarters. In Buguma, the Asari-Toru LGA headquarters, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George and his supporters marched through the streets, singing in solidarity with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The protesters carried placards with messages urging the police to maintain their presence at the council headquarters. Some placards read, “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.”

The pro-Wike former LGA chairmen defied a protest advisory issued by the Rivers State Police Command. At Asari-Toru LGA, the protest nearly turned violent when men believed to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military company, colloquially known as Amama Soldiers, attempted to attack the protesters. However, the police swiftly intervened and restrained the Amama Soldiers. The protesters later presented a protest letter to the police.

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In Abonnema, the Akuku-Toru LGA headquarters, another group staged a protest supporting the continued closure of council premises by the police.

The police had taken over the council secretariats of all 23 LGAs in Rivers State last Tuesday following a crisis that erupted over the expiration of the three-year tenure of the former LGA chairmen, which resulted in three deaths. Governor Siminalayi Fubara immediately swore in 23 caretaker chairmen, but the police have continued to barricade the council premises to prevent any further breakdown of law and order.