The Rivers State Police Command has reopened all 23 Local Government Area Secretariats in the state following the recent election and swearing-in of new chairmen.

This was confirmed in a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Monday morning. She noted that the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala, acting on the directives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel who had previously sealed and secured the council secretariats.

The secretariats were initially sealed in June due to a disagreement between the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the former local government chairmen, who were aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This development followed Governor Fubara's swearing-in of 23 newly elected local government chairmen. The ceremony, held on Sunday at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt, took place a day after the Rivers State Independent National Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted elections at the grassroots level.

POLICE ORDERS UNSEALING OF LGA SECRETARIATS, WITHDRAWAL OF DEPLOYED PERSONNEL WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT

In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha, hereby conveys the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state. This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel. The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.

The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation evolves.

GRACE IRINGE-KOKO (ANIPR),
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
RIVERS STATE POLICE COMMAND.
FOR: THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
OCTOBER 7, 2024