Rivers State Police Command has unsealed all 23 Local Government Area Secretariats following the election and swearing-in of new chairmen, as confirmed by the Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko.
Recall that Governor Siminalayi Fubara swore in 23 newly elected local government chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of the Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
The secretariats were sealed in June due to a disagreement between the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and former Rivers State Governor.
However, with the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Bala, acting on the orders of the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the council secretariats have been withdrawn.
Part of the statement read;
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 convey 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.
