The crisis in Rivers has escalated as suspected political thugs set the secretariat of Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA) on fire.
According to eyewitnesses, the hoodlums early hours on Monday fire threw firebombs at the Ikwerre local government council secretariat.
A now-viral video sighted by Intel Region showed a section of the secretariat engulfed in thick smoke with the hoodlums shooting sporadically.
–
This comes after the Eleme Local Government Area secretariat of the state was attacked and set ablaze by suspected political thugs.
It was gathered that the newly elected chairman, Brain Gokpa, came to the LG secretariat accompanied by his councillors and supporters but discovered that some buildings in the complex had been set ablaze.
Also, there are reports of clashes and attacks in other local governments as of Monday morning, like Oyigbo, and Ahoada East LGAs.
In certain areas, some persons have protested chanting “No Wike, no Rivers State, no Wike, no Secretariat” according to a viral video.
Recall that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while swearing in the council chairmen on Sunday, exposed plots by alleged enemies of the state to unleash violence on the newly sworn-in local government chairmen.
Fubara revealed that some groups were mobilizing 20 people per political unit to attack the chairmen when they report to their various council Secretariat to resume duties.
He advised the chairmen not to confront the situation or engage in any physical altercations should violence erupt.
Intel Region reports that in the election that was held on Saturday, opposition parties including the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Labour Party won seats.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), backed out of the election.
Earlier on Monday the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police unsealed all the LG Secretariats earlier occupied by the police.
