A mere three hours after the Rivers State Police Command announced the unsealing of local government secretariats that had been previously closed, violence erupted in several areas, leading to acts of arson, gunfire, and reported fatalities. The situation has raised significant concerns about the security of newly elected officials and the potential for further unrest in the region.
On Monday morning, chaos unfolded at the Eleme Local Government Area secretariat shortly after the arrival of newly elected chairman Brian Gokpa, who was accompanied by councilors and supporters. Eyewitnesses recounted that attackers deliberately targeted specific buildings within the complex, setting parts of the secretariat ablaze. The motivations behind this brazen attack remain uncertain, although it is clear that tensions have been mounting in the political landscape of Rivers State.
The secretariats had been sealed since June 2024 due to an ongoing political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former ally, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike. These closures forced caretaker chairmen appointed by Fubara to operate from alternative locations, significantly disrupting local governance. Despite Wike’s efforts to thwart their efforts, local government elections took place on October 5, 2024, resulting in the swearing-in of new chairmen by Governor Fubara the very next day.
Earlier that day, the Rivers State Police Command issued a statement confirming the decision to unseal the secretariats, a directive that came from Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun. Newly deployed Commissioner of Police Bala Mustapha relayed this order, emphasizing that police personnel would be withdrawn from the secretariats to ensure neutrality and allow for the smooth functioning of democratic processes. The police indicated that they would only return if a security threat emerged, a situation that is becoming increasingly likely given the recent outbreak of violence.
In light of the attacks, the police urged residents to remain calm and assured them of their commitment to maintaining peace. However, the assault on the Eleme secretariat has heightened fears regarding the security of other local government offices, particularly as newly elected officials begin to assume their responsibilities.
Reports from Khana Local Government Area indicated that one individual was killed during sporadic gunfire along the road leading to the Rector’s Lodge. Violence also erupted in Obio/Akpor LGA, where confrontations broke out, and bottles were thrown, although police forces managed to contain the situation. In Bori, clashes between members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Action People’s Party (APP) erupted in a protest at the Khana Council Secretariat, a situation that followed the withdrawal of police presence from the area.
The violence was not limited to Eleme and Khana; in Ikwerre LGA, reports surfaced of unknown gunmen chasing the newly elected chairman and his supporters away from the secretariat. Meanwhile, pro-Wike supporters have taken control of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Secretariat, preventing the pro-Governor Fubara council chairman from gaining access to the office.
In Oyigbo LGA, Executive Chairman Dr. Gift Okere successfully took charge of the council secretariat, with administrative activities commencing promptly after the swearing-in of the vice chairman and ten elected councilors. This was in stark contrast to other areas where violence was rampant.
The situation was particularly tense in Ahoada East, where initial attempts by pro-Wike groups to block access to the secretariat were thwarted after a serious shooting incident left three individuals with bullet wounds.
The escalating violence across multiple secretariats underscores the deep political divisions within Rivers State, where allegiances to either Governor Fubara or Minister Wike have created a volatile environment. As newly elected officials navigate their roles, the prospect of further unrest looms large, casting a shadow over the future of local governance in the state.
This developing situation has drawn attention from citizens and political analysts alike, who are closely monitoring the dynamics of power and the potential for reconciliation—or further conflict—between the rival factions within Rivers State’s political landscape.
