BY OUR REPORTER
The new Commissioner of Police in Rivers state, Mustapha Bala, on Wednesday embarked on inspection visits to some local government council secretariats which were affected by Monday’s violence in the state.
The inspection took place after a meeting with Chijioke Ihunwo at the Obio/Akpor council, Rumuodumaya.
He also visited Emohua to see the destruction for himself, after which he visited Isiokpo in Ikwerre LGA, as well as Eleme local government.
In a video, Bala was seen flanked by both unarmed civilians and armed security operatives, as he walked around inspecting some of the secretariats.
The development comes after highly reported political violence and tension in the state.
Violent clashes erupted in at least four local government areas—with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist the new council officials.
The burning of LG secretariats followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police.
Though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the police opted out of the exercise that produced the newly elected LG chairmen, Governor Siminalayi Fubara insisted that the election be held on Saturday.
After an exercise held amid heightened tension, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 chairmanship positions out of 23 in the oil-rich state while the Action Alliance (AA) won a seat.
Fubara swore in the 23 newly elected local government chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday but some of the LG bosses were attacked upon assumption of office on Monday. Some council secretariats were also set ablaze by political opponents.
Source: Channels TV
