On Monday, chaos erupted in Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area, of Rivers State when police officers used gunfire and teargas to disperse workers at the local council secretariat.
According to The PUNCH, the workers had gathered to resume work, as directed by the National Union of Local Government Employees, but were met with force from law enforcement.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as frightening, with police officers arriving in several patrol vans and shooting into the air. A source, who requested anonymity due to safety concerns, said the police presence caused panic and led to injuries.
“This morning, the National Union of Local Government Workers asked their members to resume work at the Ikwerre Local Government. While we were there, we saw more than 100 policemen fully armed. And they started shooting and firing teargas everywhere,” the source recounted. “Workers, women, and everybody started running. Two women slumped, and the policemen are not even allowing access to medical care.”
According to the Chief of Staff of Ikwerre LGA, Richard Henry, the incident left many injured, and some workers fled into the nearby bushes. “Our mothers and youths who were there are injured. We don’t know if there was any death because many people ran into the bush.
The policemen came with a hot water tank and about 11 Hilux vans,” he said. Condemning the police action, Henry emphasized that the violence was uncalled for, given that the issue of council attacks was already being addressed by the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
“They came to the premises and shot teargas everywhere, and people were running helter-skelter. This matter is before the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, and they came to teargas everybody, which is not fair. We will resist them,” he asserted.
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed its involvement, explaining the presence of officers at the council secretariat. Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson, justified the deployment as a measure to maintain order following previous arson attacks on the secretariat.
“The Ikwerre LG secretariat was closed following the arson because it was one of the worst hit,” she stated. “Some mobs, over 300, damaged the gate and forced themselves into the secretariat, either to loot or further destroy properties. That was the reason the police were called upon.”
Iringe-Koko added that the officers were there to prevent further damage. “Our men swiftly mobilized and went there to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order and to restore peace by dispersing them so that they don’t destroy any facility,” she explained.
The Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry is currently investigating the causes of the council attacks.
