Monday, October 7, 2024 -The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed immediate withdrawal of Policemen from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
The
secretariat were sealed in June following the disagreement between the
Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the
immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike,
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, on Monday, the Public Relations
Officer of Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the newly
deployed Commissioner of Police in the State , CP Bala Mustapha, conveyer the
directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the
immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and
safeguard the secretariat.
Koko said the decision was 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 Secretariat, 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 continues to evolve,” she stated.
The
development comes few hours after Fubara swore in the newly elected chairmen.
0 Comments