Ex-LG bosses defy police orders, stage protests in rivers.

On Monday, 21 out of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers State held protests in their respective council areas.

Former Chairman Onengiyeofori George and his followers marched through Buguma, the council headquarters of the Asari-Toru LGA, gyrating to songs in sympathy with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

They held posters with inscriptions urging the police to continue occupying the municipal headquarters. Some of the inscriptions read “Sim Fubara Can’t Continue to Act as He Likes” and “There’s No Vacancy in the Asari-Toru Council.”

The pro-Wike former LGA bosses protested in their local councils despite the Rivers State Police Command’s warning against protests.

The protest in Asari-Toru LGA nearly became violent when several individuals alleged to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military organisation, known as Amama Soldiers, attempted to attack the demonstrators.

The Amama soldiers were quickly subdued by observant policeman. The demonstrators later handed over a protest letter to the police.

In Abonnema, some individuals protested at the Akuku-Toru LGA council headquarters, supporting the police’s continuing closure of government premises.

Last Tuesday, the police took over the council secretariats of the 23 LGAs in the oil-rich South-South, following a crisis caused by the former LGA chairmen’s three-year mandate expiration. Three people have died as a result of the pandemic.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara quickly swore in 23 caretaker chairmen, but police have continued to surround council buildings in all LGAs, preventing both parties from obtaining access and preventing a breakdown in peace and order.