The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed immediate withdrawal of Policemen from the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

This directive is to pave way for the resumption of the constitutionally elected Chairmen of the local councils who were sworn in on Sunday by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The secretariat were sealed in June following the disagreement between  the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.

According to the PPRO, the directive for the withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the secretariat is immediate.

Koko said the decision was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.

“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariat, which were earlier secured by police personnel. The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.

“The Rivers State Police Command assures the public of its readiness to maintain peace and order across the state and will continue to act professionally in discharging its duties. We urge all residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation continues to evolve,” she stated.

The governor had accused the IGP of taking sides with his opponents, an allegation the police denied while cautioning politicians to be mindful of their utterances.