Tension in River State worsened on Monday, with seven of the 23 newly sworn-in executive chairmen of local government areas battling for the soul of their secretariats, as some were chased out of their offices by the marauding thugs that also torched four council secretariats.
The post-election crisis raged on yesterday, with five persons reportedly killed, following gundwell at different locations in the state, with one person reportedly gunned down at Khana LGA, three at Oyibo LGA, and one was killed at Ahoada-East LGA in.
The four secretariats set ablaze were those of Eleme, Emohua, Ikwerre and Etche, as the battle for the soul of the oil-rich state intensified between factions loyal to the Governor Siminalayi Fubara and those aligned with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Trouble reportedly began when the new LG chairmen, who were sworn in on Sunday, arrived at the council secretariats, They met many youths opposed to their election at the LGA headquarters.
Some of the youths stationed at the council secretariats claimed they were there to clean up the premises for the former council chairmen whose tenure had elapsed. It was also gathered that shooting started in the process and many people sustained bullet wounds, while about five reportedly died.
Expectedly, the continued shootings in some of the local government secretariats caused fear and panic in the communities they are located in.
It was gathered that thugs also stormed the Eleme council secretariat at about 11 a.m. and set parts of it on fire, insisting the newly sworn-in chairman would not access the office.
Sources further told journalists that the thugs also set ablaze the Ikwerre council secretariat at Isiokpo, claiming that last Saturday’s LGA election in the state was illegal.
At Emohua LGA, some youths were said to have attacked the secretariat immediately the new chairman, David Omereji, swore in his deputy, Patient Ebere, and 14 councilors.
The thugs were said to have allegedly thrown several explosives, believed to be dynamite, into the building, which reportedly shattered many properties on the premises.
This came as President Bola Tinubu directed the police to provide security to the LG officials and restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
The president also instructed law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, emphasizing the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
Although the police in the state have yet to issue any statement on the attacks by the thugs, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said it would not engage in a media tussle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the political crisis in the state.
