By Damilare Adeleye
As the Rivers State political crisis deepens, hoodlums reportedly loyal to the immediate former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, have set three council headquarters ablaze.
The affected council areas are Ikwerre, Eleme and Emohua local government secretariats.
Reports indicated that the armed hoodlums masquerading as political thugs stormed the council headquarters shortly after the police withdrew their personnel.
The hoodlums vandalized properties and set buildings ablaze to prevent the newly elected chairmen from taking over the councils.
According to reports, the political unrest has widened as political thugs loyal to Wike had set both Eleme and Ikwerre Council headquarters ablaze.
The attacks reportedly happened around 11 a.m. on Monday, with Eleme Local Government Area being one of the first hit, as thugs set parts of the secretariat on fire, vowing to prevent the newly sworn-in chairman from accessing the office.
In Ikwerre LGA, located in Isiokpo, the office of the chairman was also set ablaze by thugs protesting the legitimacy of Saturday’s LGA elections.In a more violent incident at Emohua LGA, a group of youths attacked the council secretariat just after the newly sworn-in chairman, David Omereji, had inaugurated his deputy, Patient Ebere, along with 14 councillors.
The attackers reportedly detonated explosives, believed to be dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and shattering property within the premises.
On Monday, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered the immediate withdrawal of police from LGA premises after months of occupation.