In a significant development, the Nigeria Police Force has ordered the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel deployed to seal and safeguard Local Government Secretariats in Rivers State.
The directive, conveyed by the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha, is in line with the forceโs commitment to ensuring neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
According to a statement signed by SP. Grace Iringe-Koko, Police Public Relations Officer, Rivers State Police Command, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the unsealing of the secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
โThe IGP has directed the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel deployed to seal and safeguard Local Government Secretariats in Rivers State,โ the statement read.
The police personnel will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of a crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
Iringe-Koko said the Rivers State Police Command has assured the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state.
The statement reads: โGiven the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.
โThis decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
โConsequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
โThe 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.
โThe 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 continues to evolve.โ