GOVERNOR Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has promised to ensure that justice is served on the perpetrators of arson and killings that took place on Monday in parts of the state.
The state government has, therefore, set up a judicial commission of inquiry into Monday, 7 October 2024 unwholesome act.
Speaking during the swearing-in of four new commissioners at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Governor Fubara pledged to take action against those responsible, marking a departure from previous incidents where perpetrators went unpunished.
“We won’t stand by and watch political thugs wreak havoc in Rivers State.
“Those behind these attacks will account for their atrocities,”
He further stated that: “I said it before it happened. Those behind this are unhappy and have gone to extreme lengths to sow discord among our people.
“But we won’t allow this to go unpunished. We will work with security agencies to uncover those”.
Earlier, a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, on Tuesday said the judicial commission is established pursuant to Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law to investigate the arson, killings, and destruction of property at local government council headquarters.
The commission members are:
- Hon. Justice I.R. Minakiri – Chairman
- Barr. Felicia Nwoke – Member
- Prof. Blessing Didia – Member
- Sir Samuel Egbe – Member
- Venerable Alex Usifor – Member
- Barr. Uzor Ikenga – Counsel to the Commission
- Mrs. Inyingi Brown – Secretary
The statement said members of the Commission will be sworn in later today at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.
Parts of Rivers State went up in flames Monday following Saturday’s local government election and the subsequent swearing-in of elected officials a day later. The violence that engulfed some of the council secretariats was believed to have been perpetrated by those protesting the outcome of the poll. They are also believed to be loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is at loggerheads with Governor Fubara.
The attacks resulted in the destruction of three local government secretariats and the killing of about five persons,including the bbrother of,the current Chief of Staff ,to the ggovernor
An eyewitness said that one person was gunned down at Khana Lical Government Area, three at Oyibo Local Government Area, while one was reportedly killed at Ahoada-East Local Governnent Area.
As the attacks continued, four council secretariats, including Eleme, Emohua, Ikwerre and Etche, were set ablaze.
It was gathered that thugs stormed the Eleme council secretariat at about 11 a.m., and set parts of it on fire, insisting the newly sworn-in chairman would not access the office.
Sources said that the thugs also set ablaze the Ikwerre council secretariat at Isiokpo, claiming that last Saturday’s local government election in the state was illegal.
The thugs were said to have allegedly thrown several explosives, believed to be dynamite into the building, which reportedly shattered many properties in the premises.
Eighteen-Eleven Media