The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel previously deployed to seal off the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, thegazellenews.com reports.
This withdrawal of police personnel from the council’s secretariats in the state was announced on Monday, 7 October, 2024 in a statement issued by Rivers State Police Command Public Relations officer, Grace Iringe-Koko.
According to the statement, the order follows recent political developments in Rivers State.
“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.”
According to the statement, the decision “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.”
It further clarified that personnel will only be redeployed to those areas if there was a crisis or breakdown of law and order, at which point emergency measures would be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.
The Rivers State Command assured the public of its continued commitment to maintaining peace and order across the state, while reiterating its professional conduct in carrying out its duties.
The statements urged the residents and stakeholders to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation unfolds.
