Policemen have ended a three-month siege on the secretariats of 23 local government areas in Rivers state.
The withdrawal is coming hours after the swearing in of 23 local government chairmen elected during the October 5 council elections.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, gave the order for the immediate withdrawal of the cops from the LG headquarters.
Spokesperson of Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the newly deployed Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of IGP Egbetokun.
He said the cops were previously deployed to seal and safeguard the secretariats.
The secretariat were sealed in June following the disagreement between the Caretaker Committee Chairmen loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past local government chairmen, who were loyalists of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The police spox said the decision was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“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,” she said.