KEY POINTS
- Two Rivers State secretariats have been set ablaze.
- Political faction supporters clash violently with police.
- Inspector General of Police orders controversial withdrawal
On Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, reports suggested that 20 young men had been hired in each of the 23 local government areas (LGAs) of Rivers State to stage attacks at each LGA secretariat the following day. These claims appeared to hold as two LGA secretariats were subsequently set on fire.
The reports indicated that the men were hired by a political faction at an undisclosed fee to prevent those sworn in on Sunday from gaining access to the secretariats.
Trouble began Monday morning with reports from Bori, the headquarters of Khana LGA. Allegedly, men had ambushed and attacked a delegation of those sworn in the day before.
Violence erupts in Khana as ambush leaves one dead
“There was heavy shooting near a road beside the Bori police station, which leads to the polytechnic rector’s lodge,” said a source. “We gathered that some attackers emerged from the bush and opened fire on elected members of a particular political party who were trying to access the rector’s lodge, leading to an exchange of gunfire with the police.”
BusinessDay reported that the Bori Police Division removed the body of an innocent bystander who was struck by a bullet during the ongoing exchange. As the situation remained unstable, reports emerged that the Eleme LGA headquarters had also been set ablaze, with the newly constructed building destroyed.
Soon after, additional reports surfaced, showing smoke rising from the Isiokpo Ikwerre LGA headquarters, which had also been set on fire. In Emohua LGA, a group of leaders believed to be loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister occupied the secretariat, although no violence was reported.
Sim Fubara supporters took control of the secretariat at Rumudumanya, which is close to Rumuokoro along Airport Road, in Obio/Akpor, a part of Port Harcourt. However, by the time of reporting, gunfire had begun behind the secretariat. Video footage showed bullet holes at the back of the building, and soon people were fleeing for safety as bullets flew.
The Inspector General of Police, whom Gov. Siminalayi Fubara had accused of openly siding with the FCT minister, announced the immediate withdrawal of police squads from the secretariats. However, the police stated they would return if violence resumed. Many suspected the order to withdraw was a signal for further conflict. Subsequently, secretariats began coming under attack, particularly in areas where opponents of the election seemed to have an advantage.
