IGP orders withdrawal of police personnel from Rivers LGAs

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from all the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Port Harcourt, said the directive was to pave the way for the newly elected chairmen to assume office.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara sworn in the chairmen who were elected on Saturday the following day.

All the local council secretariats were sealed and barricaded by the police since June following the lingering power tussle between Fubara and his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT).

READ ALSO: IGP Egbetokun shakes police hierarchy, redeploys commissioners in key states

The statement read:

“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.

“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, 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.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now