Many individuals were injured when police employed tear gas to disperse local government workers in Rivers State during a protest. Read more about the incident and its implications for labor relations in the region.
Chaos erupted in Isiokpo, the headquarters of the Ikwerre Local Government Area, on Monday when police officers used gunfire and teargas to disperse workers.
Several patrol vans carrying police officers arrived at the secretariat in a commando style. The policemen fired shots sporadically to disperse workers, causing them to scramble for safety.
The incident stopped council workers from returning to work following a directive issued by the National Union of Local Government Employees.
The Ikwerre Local Government Area was the hardest hit during attacks on several councils in the state by suspected political thugs following local government elections.
Since then, the council and two others have been kept secure to prevent a recurrence of the arson and violence that followed when the police reopened the council headquarters.
An eyewitness informed our reporter that numerous workers, including two women, sustained injuries while attempting to flee the scene of the shooting. The witness added that many individuals sought safety by running into nearby bushes.
A source, who wished to remain anonymous due to concerns for their safety, stated that the National Union of Local Government Workers instructed its members this morning to return to work at Ikwerre Local Government.
During our time there, we saw over 100 fully armed police officers. They began shooting and launching tear gas indiscriminately, causing workers, women, and everyone else to flee.
Currently, two women have collapsed and the police are now permitting access to medical care.
Richard Henry, the Chief of Staff for Ikwerre LGA, confirmed the incident and noted that there might be some casualties as many workers fled into the bushes.
Henry reported, “They arrived at the premises and released tear gas everywhere, causing people to run in all directions.”
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“Our mothers and young people present have been injured. We are unsure if there were any fatalities, as many fled into the bush. The police arrived with a hot water cannon vehicle and approximately 11 Hilux vans.”
He criticized the policemen’s actions, stating that the attack was unjustified since the issue of burning councils was already under review by the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
“They were all armed. Furthermore, this issue is currently being addressed by the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, yet they came to disperse everyone with teargas, which is unjust. We will oppose them,” he stated.
The police acknowledged their responsibility for being at the Ikwerre council secretariat.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the spokesperson for the state police command, informed our correspondent that the Ikwerre LG secretariat was closed due to arson as it suffered significant damage.
She clarified, “Those are not just men in police uniforms; they are actual officers from the command who were present to uphold law and order.”
Due to the burning of the local government building, a panel of inquiry has been established by the governor to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes behind these incidents. The proceedings are currently ongoing.
“All the attacked secretariats are securely locked, with Ikwerre LGA experiencing significant damage.”
A group of over 300 individuals damaged the gate and forced their way into the secretariat, with intentions to either loot or cause further destruction. This prompted a call for police intervention.
In response, our personnel quickly mobilized and arrived at the scene to prevent any disruption of law and order. They worked efficiently to restore peace by dispersing the crowd, ensuring that no facilities were damaged.
