President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force to secure local government secretariats in Rivers State against further attacks by arsonists and vandals, following the recent violence that erupted after the Saturday local government elections.
This was disclosed by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga in a statement on Monday.
The directive comes after rampaging hoodlums, angry over the outcome of the elections, burned down several council secretariats in the oil-rich state.
“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state,” Onanuga said.
President Tinubu called on political actors to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and urged them to discourage their supporters from engaging in violence and destruction.
“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately,” Onanuga added.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions. President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.”
The President underscored that self-help has no place in a democratic system, particularly after 25 years of continuous democracy in Nigeria.
He also noted that the judiciary remains the appropriate institution for settling political disputes, urging all parties involved in the Rivers elections to seek legal redress.
The violence erupted across at least four local government areas in Rivers State, with Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze.
In Ahoada East, gunfire was reported as political opponents clashed over the results of the election. The burning of the secretariats occurred after police officers who had been securing the 23 local government areas were withdrawn by the state’s commissioner of police.
Despite the withdrawal of the police, and objections from major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Siminalayi Fubara pressed ahead with the elections on Saturday.
The results saw the Action People’s Party (APP) win 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions, with the Action Alliance (AA) securing one.
Governor Fubara swore in the newly elected local government chairmen on Sunday, but tensions remained high, with some of the new officials facing violent attacks when they attempted to assume office on Monday. Several council secretariats were set ablaze by aggrieved political opponents.
President Tinubu’s orders are aimed at restoring calm and preventing further destruction of public property in the aftermath of the election, urging political actors and their supporters to seek peaceful resolutions through lawful means.