Ikwerre, Eleme, Emuoha LG Secretariats In Rivers On Fire

The newly built council secretariat at Isiokpo in the Ikwerre Local Government area has been set ablaze.

A resident in the area confirmed the incident on Monday even as videos circulating on social media show the administrative building on fire.

Police authorities have not commented on the incident and the extent of damage is still unclear.

This followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police.

The Emohua Local Government Council secretariat has also been set ablaze. Some youths blocked the entrance chanting songs in solidarity with the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and insisting that the new chairman David Omereji would not be allowed to take office.

The incident comes days after the LG elections in Rivers State.

Earlier, some sections of the Eleme council secretariat went ablaze.

A former ambassador Oji Ngofa who hails from Eleme said the newly elected chairman of the council Brain Gokpa came to the secretariat accompanied by his councilors and supporters.

According to him, the LG boss, however, discovered that a few of the buildings in the council had been set ablaze.

The new council chairman, his councilors, and supporters have vowed to take over the secretariat come what may. The Chairman accuses his predecessor for the arson attack and says he has reported the incident to the police.

In Emohua council, some unknown individuals have barricaded the entrance to the secretariat. They’re resisting the resumption of the new Chairman, David Omereju. In a social media video, they can be heard chanting “No Wike, No Rivers State!!”

So far, no arrests have been made and the police are yet to release any statement on the situation. There is a palpable fear of a potential outbreak of violence in some councils of the state.

The incident adds to the list of issues that have propped up since Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s swearing-in of the new chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday.

Saturday’s election was filled with drama, intrigues, and twists in the lead-up. There were also explosions, protests, and gunshots during that period and on the day Rivers residents went to the polls.