The IGP during a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja on Thursday, clarified that the police presence at the secretariats was intended to maintain peace and order, not to intimidate anyone.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced that officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will vacate the local government secretariats in Rivers State after the court ruling on the controversy surrounding the tenure of local government council chairmen in the state.
The IGP during a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja on Thursday, clarified that the police presence at the secretariats was intended to maintain peace and order, not to intimidate anyone.
The police boss also directed that the police barricades at the secretariats remain in place to prevent any breakdown of law and order until the court delivers its judgment.
Egbetokun, who also addressed the ongoing controversy over the recruitment of constables and allegations by the Police Service Commission (PSC) against him, emphasised that the management of the Force would not allow unqualified and untrainable individuals to be recruited into the police force.
He asserted that the Nigeria Police Force is a specialised institution, not open to all Nigerians.
Recall that following the violent protests that ensued since Monday after the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, announced the sacking of the 23 local government chairmen and refusal of the council chairmen to vacate their seats, police took over all the secretariats of the local government areas across the state.
Rivers State was thrown into chaos since Monday after Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced the removal of 23 local government chairmen whose three-year tenure expired on Monday.
The state has been ravaged by protests and clashes between Governor Fubara’s supporters and supporters and the council chairmen loyal to the immediate past governor of the state and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.