A section of the Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) secretariat in Rivers State was set ablaze, News About Nigeria reports.
The incident occurred shortly after Brian Gokpa, the newly elected chairman of Eleme LGA, assumed office.
Upon his arrival at the secretariat, Gokpa, accompanied by several councillors and supporters, discovered that parts of the complex had been destroyed by fire.
The event has heightened concerns, with many worried that it could escalate political tensions in Rivers State.
Former Ambassador Oji Ngofa, a native of Eleme, expressed apprehension in a phone interview with Channels Television, suggesting the fire could fuel political rivalries and possibly lead to further violence across the state’s LGAs.
The fire’s cause remains undetermined, but local leaders and residents are urging authorities to take immediate action to prevent any escalation.
This incident follows an order from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun to withdraw police personnel from all 23 LGAs in Rivers State.
The directive, issued on October 7, was relayed by Rivers State Police Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko.
According to her, State Commissioner of Police Bala Mustapha conveyed the IGP’s orders to withdraw officers previously deployed to safeguard local government secretariats.
The full statement from the command reads:
“In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha, hereby conveys the directives 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. This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the local government secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel. The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation evolves.”
