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There was chaos in Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA), on Monday, when police officers fired gunshots and launched teargas canisters to disperse council workers.
The officers stormed the council secretariat in multiple patrol vans, shooting sporadically in an attempt to scatter the workers, who fled for safety.
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The incident occurred after the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) instructed council workers to return to their duties.
The unrest prevented employees from resuming work at the Ikwerre LGA secretariat, which has been a flashpoint since the area was heavily impacted by political violence following the local government elections.
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A witness, who spoke anonymously out of fear for their safety, described the scene: “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, workers, women and everybody started running. As I speak now, two women slumped and the policemen are now allowing access to medical care.”
Many workers fled into nearby bushes because of the violence.
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One of the victims, Richard Henry, Chief of Staff at Ikwerre LGA, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over potential casualties.
“They came to the premises and shot teargas everywhere and people were running helter-skelter. 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.
Henry condemned the police action, calling it unjustified, as the issue of the council burnings is currently under investigation by the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
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“All of them were armed. Moreover, 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 stated.
The police, however, defended their presence at the Ikwerre LGA secretariat.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, explained that the Ikwerre LGA secretariat had been closed due to the damage caused by arson, as it was one of the worst-affected areas.
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She stated, “It is not men in police uniform. They are police officers in the command who went there to maintain law and order. You know because of the local government that was burnt, a panel of inquiry was set up by the governor to look into the immediate and remote causes of the secretariats that were burnt and the sitting is ongoing.”
“All the secretariats that were attacked are under lock and key, and this Ikwerre LGA is one with major damage. Now 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. And in response, our men swiftly mobilised and went there to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order and restore peace by dispersing them, so that they don’t destroy any facility.” she said.
