. State Govt blames police for Monday’s violence
Police in Rivers have launched a full-scale investigation into the post-election violence that rocked some local government areas of the state resulting in the loss of lives and burning of three local government secretariats on Monday.
The state’s new Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Mohammed, disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the three affected LGAs, on Wednesday.
Mohammed also disclosed that a high-powered investigation team of seasoned police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, had been assigned the task, adding that the report of the investigation would be submitted to the Inspector General of Police upon completion.
On Monday, violence broke out in many councils of the state after the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the unsealing of the secretariats of the 23 LGAs of the state as a group loyal to some political actors lay siege to the councils and prevented the newly elected LG Chairmen from entering their offices.
The police commissioner said police operatives had begun intensive patrols to build confidence of the residents and reassure them of their safety.
He added that a series of measures had been put in place aimed at ensuring adequate security in the state.
CP Mohammed appealed for peace among stakeholders in the state, urging members of the public to collaborate with the police to ensure the full restoration of peace in the state.
He said, “I am preaching the gospel of peace to everybody. I am a peacemaker. I am an ambassador of peace. My message to everybody is to let us collaborate to maintain law and order.
“The state is not volatile. There is relative peace and we will continue to ensure public safety. We will collaborate with all critical stakeholders both state and non-state actors, to ensure the safety and security of the entire state.”
Aside from a visit to Ikerre, Emuoha and Eleme LGAs where their secretariats were touched by suspected thugs, CP Mohammed and some members of his management team also visited Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor councils headquarters of the state.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government, through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, has blamed the police for the violence that rocked the various local government areas of the state.
Johnson, on Wednesday, accused the police of reneging on its responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the citizens, as he described the decision of the police to withdraw from providing security during last Saturday’s election in the state as a conspiracy.
“It is to tell you that there is a conspiracy by the Nigerian Police and I put every blame on the Nigerian police for leaving a whole state unpoliced on Saturday.
“It tells you that anything could have happened; it meant ‘To your tent, O Israel,’ to every resident of the state.
“By the Constitution, the least job of the police is to protect lives and property of the state and they ignored it.
“I think that the police, who ought to be at the centre of the blame, was not there. And they also know that there are other unseen hands.
“No man can destroy his own house. There is no way the Governor could set any of the councils ablaze, and watch three councils being burnt while there was even an attempt on the Ohio/Akoor council.”
In the same vein, the Rivers State Elders and Leadership Forum called on the people to remain peaceful regardless of the provocation.
The Chairman of the forum and former Governor, Chief Rufus Ada-George, during a press briefing, in Port-Harcourt, called on the police to carry out the directive of the President calling for a proper investigation into the crisis.
Meanwhile, the Niger Delta Civil Society Leaders Forum has expressed concern over the continued tension between former Governor Nyesom Wike and incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
In a statement on Wednesday, signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Okezi Odugala and Emmanuel Ogan respectively, the forum said the feud continued to undermine progress in the state.
It read, “We recognise that this rift has far-reaching implications for the stability, security, and development of Rivers State, and by extension, the entire Niger Delta region.
“The ongoing feud threatens to undermine the progress made in the state and exacerbate existing social, economic and political challenges.
“In light of this, we are compelled to intervene and embark on a peace mission to broker reconciliation between the two leaders.
“Our objective is to facilitate a constructive dialogue that addresses the underlying issues, fosters mutual understanding, and promotes peaceful coexistence.
“We urge former Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara to prioritise the interests of Rivers State and its people above personal and political differences.
“We appeal to both leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, facilitated by our Forum, to resolve their differences and work towards a united goal of developing Rivers State.
“We encourage all stakeholders, including political parties, community leaders, and citizens, to support this peace initiative and refrain from actions that may exacerbate the situation.”
