The Rivers State Police Command has taken over the secretariats of the 23 local government areas in the state, following the crisis that has rocked the state in the past two days over tenure of the local government council chairmen.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt Tuesday night, said the command’s decision followed the killing of a policeman and a member of a local vigilante group in the ensuing melee in Omuma local government area secretariat.
The statement read in part: “Following the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.
“To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
“While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
“We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.”
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