Tension has reached a boiling point in Rivers State, following a series of explosions and protests that have shaken the region.
The chaos erupted just a day after Governor Sim Fubara sworn in newly elected council chairmen, who won in contentious elections held on Saturday.
The elections saw 22 winners from the All Peoples Party, closely aligned with Fubara, and a single seat secured by the Action Alliance.
The turmoil coincides with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s directive to unseal all local government secretariats, three months after police intervention in the area.
This move has sparked unrest, particularly in the Eleme Local Government Area, where the secretariat was engulfed in flames due to an explosion from a dynamite device.
Newly elected Chairman Brain Gokpa arrived at the scene to find several buildings ablaze. Protests have also erupted in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, where demonstrators have barred the newly sworn-in chairman from taking office.
Furthermore, the Ikwerre Local Government Secretariats faced violent attacks from hoodlums, with gunfire reported near the secretariat.
Governor Fubara’s decision to proceed with the elections, despite opposition from Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and his allies, has fueled the political struggle for control over state resources.
The rivalry has cast a shadow over governance in Rivers State, with concerns about potential violence escalating.
The affected areas are:
– Eleme Local Government Area: Secretariat ablaze due to explosion
– Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA: Protests prevent newly sworn-in chairman from taking office
– Ikwerre Local Government Secretariats: Violent attacks from hoodlums, gunfire reported
The police have yet to issue a statement regarding these developments, heightening concerns about the potential for violence throughout the state.