Few hours after the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun ordered his personnel to vacate local government headquarters in Rivers State, hoodlums allegedly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, have set three council headquarters on fire.

The newly built Eleme and Ikwere LGAs in the state were set on fire, as buildings and vehicles were set ablaze following explosions suspected to be dynamites.

Few hours later, the Emohua Local Government Council secretariat was also set on fire by some youths.

The youths also blocked the entrance to the council secretariat chanting songs in solidarity with the FCT Minister and insisting that the new chairman David Omereji would not be allowed to take office.

Some of the hoodlums were caught on tape singing 'No Wike, No Rivers'.

In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA protesters invaded the council headquarters in Omoku, not allowing the newly sworn-in chairman to resume office.

A resident of Eleme who spoke with our reporter under the condition of anonymity said thugs welding dangerous weapons invaded the council secretariat, on Monday morning.

“Few hours after IGP ordered his men out of Council Secretariat heavily armed men invaded the council and ignited a substance suspected to be dynamite which set the entire old Secretariat building ablaze. The thugs smashed windows of buildings not affected by fire,” the source stated.

Few hours after the attack on Ikwerre, the newly elected Chairman, Israel Abosi, took over the council secretariat with huge crowd, while some armed men were also seen shotting sporadically into the air.

The Chairman of Obio-Akpor, Ambassador Chijioke Ihunwo who also addressed crowd at the entrance of the local government declared that they will go after the investment and building belonging to anyone who makes attempt on the LG.

The Chairman further alleged an ally of Wike popularly called 'Woski' was the one shooting guns in the local government, insisting that the hoodlums would be arrested before Wednesday.

"They should be very careful because we nog go sleep. Nyesome Wikw and his boys can't come to my local government, anybody 'wey try am, the person get house house ooo, we go burn the house. The get investment for Rivers State, make den con try am and see weting go happen.

"For people wey dey shoot gun, people like 'Woski', we they come for them between now and wednesdday, we go catch am."

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, who had earlier in the morning announced the IGP’s directive saying it was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

Reports say some of the newly elected chairpersons and councillors arrived the facilities to the sight of thick black smoke billowing from what should be their new offices.

There are also reports of widespread chaos in a raft of other LGA secretariats in Rivers, as new council bosses set out their stalls for governance.

Governor Fubara-backed Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 out of the 23 councils electiosn held on Saturday. The elected Chairmen were sworn in on Sunday.

Governor Fubara, during the inauguration revealed that Wike’s men were mobilizing 20 people per unit to cause chaos and prevent the newly elected Chairmen from accessing their offices.

“I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters,” Fubara said.

“Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.

“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.

“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the Promised Land.”