Police Redeploy from Rivers LGAs After IGP's Directive

IGP Egbetokun Orders Immediate Police Withdrawal from Rivers LGAs

“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of...”

Rivers State: Police Assure Peace, Order & Security After Withdrawal from 23 LGAs, Urging Calm Among Residents & Stakeholders

Nigeria's Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the 23 local government areas in Rivers State that were sealed off in June. This decision follows a disagreement between Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who support Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The withdrawal directive was announced on October 7 by Grace Iringe-Koko, Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command. As the 13th Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has been leading the Nigeria Police Force since June 2023, replacing Usman Baba. With his extensive experience and educational background in Mathematics, Engineering Analysis, and Business Administration, Egbetokun aims to maintain law and order across the country.

“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.”

The order to withdraw police personnel from Rivers State's 23 local government areas is a direct response to the recent turmoil in the region's politics. Essentially, it's a move to ease tensions that have been simmering since June, when disagreements between Governor Siminalayi Fubara's supporters and those of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, led to the sealing off of the secretariats.

This development comes on the heels of a larger political crisis in Rivers State, marked by incidents like the bombing of the Action Peoples Party's office in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The crisis has been escalating since September, with reports of tense atmospheres and power struggles within the state's PDP faction.

The withdrawal order, issued by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, aims to restore calm and stability to the region. By pulling out the police personnel, the authorities are taking a step towards diffusing the tensions and paving the way for a more peaceful resolution to the political disputes.

The statement emphasized, “that the decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

“It further clarified that personnel will only be redeployed to those areas if there was a crisis or breakdown of law and order, at which point emergency measures would be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.”

The Rivers State Police Command is reaffirming its dedication to maintaining peace and order across the state. In light of recent developments, the Command is committed to upholding professional standards in carrying out its duties.

Residents and stakeholders are advised to remain calm and law-abiding, cooperating with the authorities as the situation unfolds. This assurance is part of the Command's ongoing efforts to ensure public safety and enforce the law while respecting the rights of all individuals.