Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has announced that police will maintain barricades at all local government secretariats in Rivers State amid ongoing political tensions. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Egbetokun emphasized the need for this measure to ensure peace and order until a court decision is made regarding the tenure controversy of local government council chairmen in the state.
He clarified that the police presence is intended to maintain peace, not to intimidate anyone. Egbetokun also highlighted the importance of preemptive actions to prevent any escalation of violence, noting, "Recently, we lost a police inspector. We don’t want to lose more men or citizens. We are duty-bound to prevent the breakdown of law and order."
The police will continue to secure the secretariats until a court ruling is issued. "As soon as the court makes its pronouncement, we will remove the barricade," Egbetokun assured.
The state police command had previously announced on Tuesday that it had taken control of all council headquarters to prevent further violence. This move followed a clash in Eberi-Omuma, Omuma Local Government Area, between supporters of the governor and his predecessor, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, resulting in the deaths of a policeman and a local security member.
State Commissioner for Police Olatunji Disu confirmed that the LG council headquarters would remain closed temporarily due to the recent violence.
Additionally, Egbetokun addressed concerns regarding the recruitment of police constables, highlighting the need for rigorous standards. He responded to allegations from the Police Service Commission (PSC) about the recruitment process, stressing the importance of selecting suitable candidates. "We respect the Commission’s power to recruit but must ensure we recruit individuals who are trainable and suitable for police duties," he said.
Egbetokun dismissed calls for his removal, stating, "Anyone can call for my removal. We are all entitled to our opinions."
