Former local government chairmen in Rivers State defied police warnings to stage protests across 21 out of the 23 Local Government Areas on Monday.
Despite police advisories against public demonstrations, these former council leaders, who are aligned with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, organized marches in their respective council areas.
In Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru LGA, former Chairman Onengiyeofori George and his supporters took to the streets, rallying in support of Wike and carrying placards bearing messages such as “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act As He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in Asari-Toru Council.”
Tensions escalated in Asari-Toru LGA when individuals believed to be affiliated with Asari Dokubo’s private military group, known as Amama soldiers, reportedly attempted to disrupt the protest. Police intervention prevented any violence, and the protesters later submitted a protest letter to the authorities.
Meanwhile, in Abonnema, the headquarters of Akuku-Toru LGA, separate demonstrations occurred in solidarity with the ongoing closure of council premises by the police.
These protests follow the police’s takeover of all 23 LGA council secretariats in Rivers State the previous Tuesday. The intervention came amid a crisis sparked by the expiration of the former LGA chairmen’s three-year tenures, which tragically resulted in three fatalities.
