LG tenure dispute leads to gunshots at Rivers Council

The tenure dispute involving outgoing local government chairmen in Rivers State took a volatile turn on Tuesday morning, as the crisis deepened and sporadic gunshots rang out at the Port Harcourt City Council, exacerbating an already tense situation.

According to eyewitnesses, the police responded to a gathering of Ijaw youths at the Council Secretariat, who were protesting the extension of local government chairmen’s tenure.

The demonstrators alleged that Allwell Ihunda, the former chairman, was refusing to relinquish his position despite his term having ended on June 17.

One protester, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said, “We are Ijaw youths and are here on a peaceful demonstration against those whose tenure has expired but refused to vacate their office. We were just on a peaceful demonstration, but surprisingly the police started shooting at us.”

Ichemanti, a leader of the Port Harcourt City youths, alleged that one of the demonstrators was shot by the police, further heightening the tension in the area. The sound of gunfire was reported to have been heard far away, adding to the anxiety in the metropolis.

The Port Harcourt City Council is strategically located near the State Police Command and the State House of Assembly complex, which was bombed last year amid political unrest.

When contacted, Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, denied that the police were responsible for the gunshots. “It is not the police that are shooting. Our men have been deployed already to identify and apprehend those disturbing the peace,” she said.

Iringe-Koko stressed that the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police were personally overseeing the situation, actively patrolling the area to maintain law and order.

The recent incident highlights the escalating political tensions in Rivers State and the urgent requirement for a peaceful resolution to the contentious local government tenure disputes. Amidst this climate of unrest, the police have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining law and order, ensuring public safety.