The newly constructed council secretariat at Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State has been set ablaze. A resident confirmed the incident on Monday, with videos circulating on social media showing the administrative building in flames.
Police authorities have yet to comment on the matter, and the extent of the damage is still unknown. The arson follows the withdrawal of police officers securing all 23 council secretariats by the Commissioner of Police.
In a related development, the Emohua Local Government Council secretariat was also set on fire. Youths blocked the entrance, chanting in solidarity with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, stating that the newly elected Chairman, David Omereji, would not be allowed to assume office.
These incidents come just days after the Rivers State Local Government elections, which were filled with tensions and violence.
Additionally, parts of the Eleme council secretariat were reportedly set ablaze.
A former ambassador, Oji Ngofa, who hails from Eleme, revealed that the new council chairman, Brain Gokpa, arrived at the secretariat with his councilors and supporters to find that some buildings had been torched. Gokpa accused his predecessor of being behind the arson and has reported the incident to the police.
At the Emohua council, unidentified individuals have barricaded the entrance to the secretariat, protesting the inauguration of the new chairman, David Omereji. A video circulating online shows protesters chanting, “No Wike, No Rivers State!”
So far, no arrests have been made, and the police have not released an official statement. Tensions remain high as fears of further violence loom across several councils in the state following the swearing-in of the new chairmen by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The recent Local Government elections were marked by violence, with explosions, protests, and gunfire reported in several areas, heightening the concerns of Rivers State residents.
