According to eyewitnesses, the hoodlums early hours on Monday fire threw firebombs at the Ikwerre local government council secretariat.
A now-viral video shared by The Bureau Newspaper depicts a section of a local government secretariat engulfed in thick smoke, with armed hoodlums firing shots sporadically.
This incident follows a recent attack on the Eleme Local Government Area secretariat, which was also set ablaze by suspected political thugs. Reports indicate that the newly elected chairman, Brain Gokpa, arrived at the secretariat with his councillors and supporters only to find parts of the complex in flames.
There have been additional reports of clashes and attacks in other local government areas, including Oyigbo and Ahoada East, as of Monday morning. In some areas, protesters have been heard chanting, “No Wike, no Rivers State; no Wike, no Secretariat,” as captured in another viral video.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, during the swearing-in of the council chairmen on Sunday, warned of alleged plots by enemies of the state to incite violence against the newly elected officials. He revealed that certain groups were mobilizing 20 individuals per political unit to target the chairmen upon their return to their respective secretariats. Fubara advised the chairmen to avoid confrontations should violence occur.
The Bureau Newspaper also reported that opposition parties, including the Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Labour Party, won seats in the recent elections held on Saturday, while the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opted out.
Earlier on Monday, the new Rivers State Commissioner of Police unsealed all local government secretariats that had been previously occupied by police forces.