Policeman, vigilante member killed in Rivers LG crisis

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of a policeman and a member of a local security outfit in Eberi-Omuma in Omuma Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

They were reported killed during a crisis that broke out following the expiration of the three-year tenure of the elected chairmen of local governments and ward councillors on June 17.

The incident occurred around 1pm as a source said a policeman attached to a politician in the area had first shot the vigilante who is a member of the Omuma Security Planning and Advisory Committee and was in one of the groups that clashed at Omuma council secretariat.

Sequel to the incident, the victim’s men took up the security personnel in reprisal and fled the area immediately.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying, “Yes, we lost a police officer and a vigilante member, Investigation is ongoing to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the incident.”

Iringe-Koko said the command would soon issue a detailed statement on the crisis that rocked the state and the steps it has taken so far.

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