On Monday, a tense scene unfolded in Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area in Rivers State, when police officers used teargas and gunfire to disperse a gathering of local government workers.
The crowd, which had assembled to resume work, was met by officers in multiple patrol vans, arriving in what witnesses described as a “commando style.” The sudden onslaught of tear gas and gunfire forced workers to flee, some seeking refuge in nearby bushes.
The National Union of Local Government Employees had recently directed its members to return to work at the Ikwerre council office, following closures linked to prior incidents of arson and vandalism targeting local council facilities.
Ikwerre was notably impacted during these attacks, reportedly organized by suspected political thugs after the local elections, which led to heightened security measures at the council building.
Eyewitnesses on the scene recounted the chaos, describing scores of workers, including women, injured in the scramble to escape.
The source who craved anonymity for fear of his life, told PUNCH, “This morning, the National Union of Local Government Workers asked their members to resume work at the Ikwerre Local Government.
“While we were there, we saw more than 100 policemen fully armed. And they started shooting and firing teargas everywhere, workers, women and everybody started running.
“As I speak now, two women slumped and the policemen are now allowing access to medical care.”
The Chief of Staff of Ikwerre LGA, Richard Henry, expressed frustration over the police action, condemning the method used to handle the situation. He indicated that many of the workers had fled into the surrounding area.
He stated, “They came to the premises and shot teargas everywhere and people were running helter-skelter.
“Our mothers and youths who were there are injured. We don’t know if there was any death because many people ran into the bush. The policemen came with a hot water tank and about 11 Hilux vans.”
While condemning the action of the policemen, he said the attack was unwarranted, as the matter of the burning of the councils was before the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
“All of them were armed. Moreover, this matter is before the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry and they came to teargas everybody which is not fair. We will resist them,” he said.
The state police command defended its involvement, stating that officers were there to maintain law and order following reports of crowds attempting to break into the secretariat.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed that officers were called to prevent property damage, stating, “It is not men in police uniform. They are police officers in the command who went there to maintain law and order.
“You know because of the local government that was burnt, a panel of inquiry was set up by the governor to look into the immediate and remote causes of the secretariats that were burnt and the sitting is ongoing.
“All the secretariats that were attacked are under lock and key, and this Ikwerre LGA is one with major damage.
“Now some mobs, over 300, damaged the gate and forced themselves into the secretariat, either to loot or further destroy properties. That was the reason the police were called upon.
“And in response, our men swiftly mobilised and went there to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order and restore peace by dispersing them, so that they don’t destroy any facility.”
