Thugs Kill One, Set Local Government Secretariats on Fire in Rivers State

Unidentified thugs have killed one resident in Khana Local Government Area in Rivers State and set two other local government secretariats on fire on Monday.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants targeted and burnt specific buildings within the complex, according to Vanguard Newspaper.

The attack, however, erupted hours after the Rivers State Police Command announced the unsealing of the local government secretariats. The sealing of the secretariats was due to a political rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

Several media reports have indicated violence erupting in Obio/Akpor LGA, though contained by the Police, yet bottles were thrown, causing unrest in the community.

Similarly, in Ikwerre LGA, unidentified gunmen reportedly chased the newly elected chairman and his supporters out of the secretariat.

While Andoni LGA reportedly remained peaceful, initial attempts by pro-Wike groups to block access to the Ahoada East secretariat witnessed an open shooting, leaving three people injured.

At Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Secretariat, pro-Wike supporters have reportedly taken over, preventing the pro-Fubara council chairman from accessing the office.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Oyigbo LGA, Dr Gift Okere, has reportedly taken control of the council secretariat, with administrative activities commencing immediately following the swearing-in of the vice chairman and 10 elected councillors.

The Fubara-led administration has yet to issue a statement addressing the incident at press time.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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Mayowa Durosinmi is a Nigerian investigative reporter for West Africa Weekly with reports focusing on politics, human rights, security and health in West Africa and the Sahel region.

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