No fewer than five persons were feared dead yesterday, following gunfire at different local government council secretariats in Rivers State by thugs.
Newly sworn-in chairmen of some of the LGAs were also chased out of their offices by the marauding thugs.
This came as President Bola Tinubu directed the police to provide security to the LG officials, restore and maintain peace, law and order immediately.
The president also instructed law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, emphasising the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
Although the Police in the state are yet to issue any statement on the attacks by the thugs, Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi said it would not engage in a media tussle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the political crisis in the state.
The continued shootings in some of the LG secretariats caused fear and panic in the communities they are located.
At noon, Monday, no fewer than five persons had been reportedly killed, while four of the LG secretariats were set ablaze.
It was gathered that when the new LG chairmen, who were sworn in on Sunday, arrived at the council secretariats, they met many youths opposed to their election at the LGA headquarters.
Vanguard learned that some of the youths stationed at the council secretariats claimed they were there to clean up the premises for the former council chairmen whose tenure had elapsed.
It was also gathered that shooting started in the process and many people sustained bullet wounds, while about five reportedly died.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that one person was gunned down at Khana LGA, three at Oyibo LGA, while one was reportedly killed at Ahoada-East LGA.
As the attacks continued, four council secretariats, including Eleme, Emohua, Ikwerre and Etche, were set ablaze.
It was gathered that thugs stormed the Eleme council secretariat at about 11 a.m., and set parts of it on fire, insisting the newly sworn-in chairman would not access the office.
Sources told Vanguard that the thugs also set ablaze the Ikwerre council secretariat at Isiokpo, claiming that last Saturday’s LGA election in the state was illegal.
At Emohua LGA, some youths were said to have attacked the secretariat immediately the new chairman, David Omereji, swore in his deputy, Patient Ebere, and 14 councillors.
