The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has instructed the immediate withdrawal of police personnel who were previously deployed to seal off the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.
This directive was announced on Monday, October 7, in a statement by Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command.
The order comes in response to recent political developments in the 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.”
The statement highlighted that 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 would only be redeployed to those areas in the event of a crisis or breakdown of law and order, at which point emergency measures would be promptly implemented to restore normalcy.
The Rivers State Command assured the public of its ongoing commitment to maintaining peace and order throughout the state while reiterating its dedication to professional conduct in carrying out its duties.
Residents and stakeholders were encouraged to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation develops.
