The Rivers State Police Command has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to postpone their planned protest over the closure of 23 local government council secretariats, citing credible intelligence reports of potential hijacking by hoodlums.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening in Port Harcourt by its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, the Command warned that the protests could lead to a breakdown of law and order, and vowed to arrest and prosecute anyone who attempts to cause a breach of the peace. .
“While the Command recognizes and respects the right to lawfully assemble, it has credible intelligence that this protest will be infiltrated and hijacked by criminals seeking to cause disruption and chaos within the country. “Therefore, the command strongly advises organizers to postpone the planned protest to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order,” Iringe-Koko said in his statement.
He also revealed that the police had deployed officers at the secretariats of all 23 local government areas to ensure the safety and security of the community.
“The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu has deployed Police Officers to Secretariats in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State. “These officers will remain at their respective locations until the threat of disturbing the peace is deemed to have ceased,” the statement added.
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Meanwhile, the Rivers chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has warned security agencies and the public of the nefarious plans being carried out by former local government chairmen and former members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly to cause anarchy and chaos, with the ultimate aim of declaring the state of emergency in the state.
ALGON Chairman Ichemati Ezebunwo warned that the protest was not in the interest of the local or state government, but rather was a calculated attempt to portray the country in a bad light and cause chaos.
“We draw the attention of the general public to the planned protest by former local government chairmen, former members of the House of Representatives and members of the National Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, against personnel of the Nigerian Police. 23 local government councils across the state,” Ezebunwo said.
“This protest plan does not represent the interests of the regional government and the country as a whole. Rather, it is a calculated effort by our country’s enemies to paint our country’s people in a bad light, unleashing chaos while doing so, and using it to further support their exaggerated calls to declare a state of emergency in our country. Dear state.”
Ezebunwo stressed that ALGON and the people of Rivers State support the decision of the police to take control and protect the entire local government council secretariat until further direction on the matter.
“We categorically state that we, members of the Local Government Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter and our people support the decision of the police to take control and protect all local government council secretariats until further direction on this matter,” Ezebunwo said.
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