Rivers Post-Election Violence: Police, Security Agencies Stand Aloof, Keep Mum as LG Councils Burn

The Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in Rivers State stayed aloof and kept mum as various local government council secretariats in the State were ravaged by arson and sporadic gunshots.

Eleme, Emohua, Ikwerre, Khana and Obio/Akpor local government secretariats were affected in thee wave of violence that rocked the State on Monday, October 7, 2024.

At Obio/Akpor the attackers met a stiff resistance as another of set of youths returned fire and overwhelmed them thus forcing them to retreat into neighbouring streets from where they escaped.

Curiously, though the secretariat shares a fence with the Mini Okoro Area Command of the Nigeria Police Force, no attempt was made by policemen from there to contain the situation.

Kristina Reports observed the policemen at the facility standing and discussing in groups instead of responding to quell the situation.

At Khana, Ikwerre, Emohua, and Eleme LG secretariats the arsons torched sections of the complex and destroyed properties worth millions of Naira.

The incidents, which happened almost simultaneously, occurred about the time the State Police Command announced the withdrawal of its personnel from the various secretariats.

A transporter, who only identified himself as Gerald, told Kristina Reports that the aloofness of the Police may not be unconnected with its non-involvement in the local government elections of Saturday, October 5, 2024.

“They are angry that the people didn’t feel their absence during the elections and also for the governor to use the civil defence operatives is annoying them.

“Rivers people have shown that free and fair elections can hold in the absence of the police. Who knows whether they are even the people rigging the election for politicians?”

Meanwhile, calls have intensified for deployment of operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to protect local council secretariats in the face of aparthy and inetia on the part of the police.

A top official of one of the security agencies, who preferred anonymity, called on the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara to engage the NSCDC to protect the secretariats in the 23 LGAs, pointing out that “the police has obviously opted for constitutional breach”.

“The Constitution mandates the police to protect lives and properties and maintain law and order in the country; for them to stand aloof is a clear indication that they are determined to violate the Constitution.”