Crisis Looms in Rivers State as Militants and Youths Threaten Local Council Takeover

As the current 23 Local Government Council (LG) chairmen in Rivers State expire on June 17, 2024, some youths, claiming to be members of the anti-bunkering task force in South South, have vowed to take over all 23 local government councils in the state.

The 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have also vowed to resist any attempt by Governor Siminalayi Fubara to install caretaker members in the 23 local government areas.

In Degema and Asari-Toru Local Government Areas, youths occupied council secretariats and locked entrances, chanting war songs and threatening the outgoing LG chairman.

A man who claimed to be a member of the Joint Task Force and in charge of anti-bunkering activities in South South vowed to storm all councils on Wednesday and force them out.

The Chairperson of the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, Samuel Nwanosike, has argued that Governor Siminalayi Fubara cannot replace him and his colleagues at the councils with a caretaker committee.