As Governor Siminalayi Fubara warned on Sunday while swearing in chairmen of the 23 local councils elected in Saturday’s poll, all hell broke loose in parts of River State, on Monday, as some yet-to-be-identified arsonists unleashed mayhem as the new council bosses resumed duty.
The arsonists set Ikwerre, Eleme, Emuoha Local Government Secretariats on fire, sending residents scurrying for safety in every direction.
Hell was brought down following the withdrawal of police operatives guarding the secretariats. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun had earlier ordered the withdrawal of his men ahead of today’s resumption by the newly elected chairmen.
Monday’s unfortunate incident sharply contradicted the tranquility that reigned in most parts of Rivers State on Saturday, despite withdrawal of policemen from security duties, as eligible votes thronged polling centres to cast their ballot in the widely applauded local government election.
A report by Channels Television said the unknown arsonists set the newly built council secretariat at Isiokpo in the Ikwerre Local Government Area, with the administrative block becoming a huge body of fire and plume.
The TV station also reported that the Emohua Local Government Council secretariat was burnt, with hordes of angry youths, who were apparently supporters of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, blocked the entrance, chanting solidarity songs, insisting that the new chairman, Hon. David Omereji, would resume duty.
When the newly elected chairman of the Eleme Local Government Area, Hon. Brain Gokpa, reportedly arrived at the secretariat with all his councilors and supporters, they discovered, to their chagrin, that some of the buildings in the council had been torched.
Though the new council chairman said he had reported the incident to the police, he fingered his predecessor as the mastermind of the attack.
The TV station also reported that at the Emohua Local Government secretariat, some yet-to-be-identified persons barricaded the gate to prevent the new chairman, Hon. David Omereju, from gaining access. The individuals were said to be chanting “No Wike, No Rivers State!”
As the day wore on, there were real fears among citizens that if nothing was done to rein in the gladiators in the Rivers crisis, and the arsonists who destroyed government property in the aforementioned councils arrested, the situation may escalate to a dangerous level.
Meanwhile, the police are yet to comment on the situation. And no arrests had been made as at the time of this report.
