The newly built council secretariat at Isiokpo in the Ikwerre Local Government area has been set ablaze.

A resident in the area confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Monday even as videos circulating on social media show the administrative building on fire.

Police authorities have not commented on the incident and the extent of damage is still unclear.

This followed the withdrawal of the police officers securing the 23 council secretariats by the commissioner of police.

The Emohua Local Government Council secretariat has also been set ablaze. Some youths blocked the entrance chanting songs in solidarity with the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and insisting that the new chairman David Omereji would not be allowed to take office.

Earlier, some sections of the Eleme council secretariat went ablaze.

A former ambassador Oji Ngofa who hails from Eleme told Channels Television that the newly elected chairman of the council Brain Gokpa came to the secretariat accompanied by his councilors and supporters.

According to him, the LG boss, however, discovered that a few of the buildings in the council had been set ablaze.

The new council chairman, his councilors, and supporters have vowed to take over the secretariat come what may. The Chairman accuses his predecessor for the arson attack and says he has reported the incident to the police.

In Emohua council, some unknown individuals have barricaded the entrance to the secretariat. They’re resisting the resumption of the new Chairman, David Omereju. In a social media video, they can be heard chanting “No Wike, No Rivers State!”

So far, no arrests have been made and the police are yet to release any statement on the situation. There is a palpable fear of a potential outbreak of violence in some councils of the state.

The incident adds to the list of issues that have propped up since Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s swearing-in of the new chairmen in Rivers State on Sunday.

Saturday’s election was filled with drama, intrigues, and twists in the lead-up. There were also explosions, protests, and gunshots during that period and on the day Rivers residents went to the polls.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of police personnel from the secretariats of the 23 LGAs of Rivers state.

The officers had been deployed to “seal and safeguard” the LG secretariats.

Grace Iringe-Koko, police spokesperson in Rivers, announced the development in a statement on Monday.

“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,” the statement reads.

In June, the secretariats were sealed over the rivalry between caretaker committee chairpersons loyal to Siminalayi Fubara, the Rivers governor; and chairpersons who owe fealty to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

Iringe-Koko said the directive “is 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,” she added.

“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.”

The development comes barely 24 hours after Fubara swore in 23 newly elected local government chairpersons.

Before the poll, Fubara alleged that the IGP was taking orders from Wike — a claim the police refuted.

Rivers state has been embroiled in crisis due to the rift between Fubara and Wike over control of the political structure of the state.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has appointed his daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, as the acting First Lady of the state.

This follows the death of his late wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.

On Friday Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, led a delegation of dignitaries, including Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, and wives of state governors and presiding officers of the National Assembly, to condole with Governor Eno.

Senator Tinubu praised Governor Eno’s decision, noting that it reflects practices seen in the United States and is a thoughtful way to sustain the late Patience Eno’s legacy. “I want to thank God for Patience’s life, though short, she completed her race. May God comfort you, your family, and your children.”

Meanwhile, Governor Eno reflected on his deep bond with his late wife, describing her as his “greatest supporter and toughest critic.” He introduced his daughter as the new acting First Lady.

He said, “It is not an easy task ahead. But to maintain the Office of the First Lady and carry forward my late wife’s work, I present our daughter, Helen, to continue the duties of the office.”