Council Secretariats Set Ablaze in Rivers

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Unknown arsonists have set ablaze the secretariats of Ikwerre and Eleme Local Governments in Rivers State.

The arsonists at Eleme were said to have had access to the secretariat after the police that sealed the premises left on Sunday night, just before the new local government chairman, Chief Brain Gokpa ,and the councilors were due to start work.

The main building of the secretariat was completely burnt and looted while the annexes that have the office of the chairman and the legislative assembly were vandalised.

The new Chairman of the local government, Brain Gokpa, and former Nigerian ambassador to the Netherlands, Oji Ngofa, however led the people to chase out the arsonists and arrange to the dousing of the fire.

The chairman said they had information that some hoodlums led by a former member of the house of assembly and former chairman of the local government were going to besiege the secretariat following the decision of the police to move out of the secretariat.

He said he passed the information to the security agencies, who did not respond to the information. He said the divisional police officer in charge of Eleme had told him not to go to the secretariat because the boys of the former council chairman were there.

At 11.40am, the legislative assembly led by Benjamin Sanwi, held their first sitting, during which Humphrey Dada Obele moved for the adoption of the order of the day.

The police has sealed off the council secretariat since June 18 when the tenure of the previous administration led by Obarilomate Ollor expired and a caretaker committee led by Gokpa was put in place.