The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel stationed at the 23 local government secretariats in Rivers State.
This move comes just hours after Governor Siminalayi Fubara swore in the newly elected local government chairmen.
The directive was announced on Monday by Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command.
According to the statement, the decision follows recent political developments within the state.
“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the local government secretariats in the state,” the statement read.
This marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Rivers, where the police had earlier taken control of the secretariats amid political uncertainty.
The order to unseal the secretariats aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring neutrality and supporting the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
Iringe-Koko further clarified that police personnel would only return to the local government areas in the event of a security crisis or if law and order were threatened. “In such situations, emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy,” the statement added.
The Rivers State Police Command reassured the public of its dedication to maintaining peace and security across the state. Residents and stakeholders were urged to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation unfolds.
The development comes after a period of political tension in the state, but the swearing-in of the local government chairmen by Governor Fubara signals a return to normalcy in Rivers’ local government administration.
The unsealing of the secretariats is expected to enable the newly sworn-in chairmen to assume their duties without further disruption.
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