Governor Fubara meets Heads of Security agencies amid tension, shootings in Rivers State 

Governor Fubara meets security agencies amid tension, shootings in Rivers State

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has held a meeting with security agencies heads following the widespread protest in the state.

The meeting which was held at the government house in Port Harcourt, the state capital became necessary after the political tension in the state escalated on Tuesday morning as residents protested at the Local Government Area secretariats in the state.

Operatives of the Police however reportedly fired multiple shots into the air to scare protesters at the various LGA headquarters, including the Port Harcourt council secretariat.

The residents were protesting against the alleged attempts by the former LGA chairmen to return to office.

Earlier, in a statewide broadcast, Fubara had ordered local government administration to immediately assume control of the 23 council areas of the state.

The three-year tenure of the elected chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and councillors ended on Monday.

Despite the governor’s order, Allwell Ihunda, former chairman of Port Harcourt City LGA, reportedly made his way to the council secretariat but was blocked by some angry youths.

After meeting with the security heads, Fubara said:“Let me say this. I am also aware that there is a grand plan to come and arrest some of our supporters.

“This time around, you have to pass through me to arrest them because I don’t think there is anything that any of those people following us have done. Rather, they are standing on the side of truth.

“If it will cost us our lives to stand on the part of truth, we will do that. And I will be the one that will lead the course.

“Let me assure everyone, more especially the great and peace-loving people of Rivers state — the law is the law. The law has said that there is no extension of tenure.

“The court said so, and whoever that is assuring anybody anywhere of whatever, I advise them to desist from it because peace is what we need in this state.

“I assure every one of you that whatever it takes to make sure that we maintain peace and order, we are not going back on that.

“It’s really unfortunate that we started hearing some disturbing news from some LGAs of invasion of the council secretariat, and it is really unfortunate. So, we have called the security council meeting so that the needful will be done.

“We are also aware that our enemy is also planning a lot of things. But we will not fall into that plot. We will not also allow him or them to destroy the peace that we are enjoying in the state.”