Metro
LG Tenure Crisis: Rivers Police Confirm Death of Policeman, Vigilante, Takes over All LG Secretariat
By Eric Elezuo
The Rivers State Police Command has said that it has assumed control of all the local government Secretariat in the state following the breakdown of law and order on Tuesday.
A statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, revealed that in a bid to forestall further breakdown of law and order, the Command has taken possession of all the local government Secretariat in the state. She informed that two security operatives; a police officer and a vigilante lost their lives during the mayhem.
Below is her full statement:
Following the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council secretariats in Rivers State where supporters of the two Political factions clashed over the tenure of Local Government Council Chairmen, a case of death was recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a Police officer and a vigilante were killed.
To forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the Police have taken over all the 23 Council Secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state. Conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers have been deployed to these facilities.
While urging all groups and individuals to be law-abiding, the Command also warn anyone who intends to cause mayhem as we will not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on them.
We also wish to ask the law-abiding residents and visitors in the state to go about their lawful businesses without fear. We are resolved to carry out our constitutional duty of protecting lives and property.
At least seven people were reportedly killed on Saturday after two suspected suicide bombers attacked some wedding guests at Marrarraban Gwoza in Borno state.
Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, reported that many of the victims were said to be returning from a wedding ceremony when the first suicide bomber detonated her explosive near a motor park.
Makama said the suicide bomber was identified as a lady in her early 20s, adding that the injured ones were taken to the hospital in Gwoza.
Also, another bomber, disguised as a mourner, detonated an explosive in Gwoza LGA as residents were preparing for the burial of those killed in the first attack.
Makama said one person reportedly died and 16 others were injured during the attack.
The publication added that Yusuf Lawal, Borno commissioner of police, confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, the military has imposed a curfew in Gwoza LGA to enable them to secure the town from any further threat.
In March 2024, two people were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED), strapped to a suspected suicide bomber, detonated near a mosque in Biu LGA of Borno state.
By Eric Elezuo
One person has been confirmed dead and two others injured in early morning road accident on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, involving a Mini Truck (MUS 489 XS) and a Toyota Camry (KRD 470 JD).
According to a statement issued on behalf of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident, which was blamed on overspeeding, occurred near the UNILAG waterfront towards the Iyana-Oworonsoki area.
The statement quoted the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa as confirming the death of one person while urging motorists to refrain from overspeeding.
He expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and urged more discipline on the road by both motorists and commuters.
The Ongoing Operation Lake Sanity II continues to yield results as three more Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) troops in Cameroon and Nigeria, according to a statement by Chief Military Public Information Officer, Lt. Col Abubakar Abdullahi, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
In Cameroon’s Sector 1, two terrorist fighters identified as Rawagana Mustapha, 18, and Mustapha Ali, 20 surrendered to the troops at Wulgo.
Similarly, Sector 3 in Nigeria reported the surrender of one terrorist fighter, Ibrahim Malam, 28, to the 403 Amphibious Brigade in Baga. Preliminary investigations revealed that Malam had been a Boko Haram fighter living in Kwaleram, south of Lake Chad, for 6 years.
As Operation Lake Sanity II progresses, the MNJTF has urged other terrorists to surrender, and lay down their arms for lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
