The Rivers State Police Command took over all 23 local government area secretariats on Tuesday evening.
SP Grace Iringe Koko, the police spokesman, confirmed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Koko attributed this to the breakdown of law and order in the various Local Government Council Secretariats.
Earlier on Tuesday, youths invaded the councils following the expiration of the tenures of the chairmen, who vowed not to leave because the pro-Wike faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly had extended their tenures by six months.
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However, Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed all the chairmen to hand over to the heads of administration in their respective LGAs.
Following the directives, supporters of the two political camps stormed LGA secretariats, leading to violence in some places.
At least two deaths were recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed.
The PPRO said that to forestall more bloodshed and prevent a further breakdown of law and order, the police took over all 23 council secretariats and some critical government infrastructure in the state.
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She said conventional police officers and anti-riot police officers had been deployed in the facilities, and she warned that the command would not hesitate to impose the full weight of the law on anyone whose intent is to cause mayhem.
“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,” Koko stated.
Earlier, Fubara met with heads of security agencies at Government House, Port Harcourt.
After the meeting, the governor raised the alarm that there were plots to crack down on his supporters.
He vowed to resist such a move, saying he would lead the move to resist such arrests.
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