Treat Rivers LG Arson Perpetrators as Terrorists, HURIWA Urges DSS

HURIWA has called on the DSS to treat those responsible for arson attacks on Rivers LG headquarters as terrorists. Find out more about the group’s position.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), a pro-democracy advocacy group, has urged the Department of State Services (DSS) to classify those responsible for Monday’s arson attacks on several local government headquarters in Rivers State as terrorists.

The rights group also criticized the Rivers State police command and the DSS for their significant failures and lack of action, which allowed the coordinated attacks to occur.

HURIWA voiced its disappointment in the security forces, mainly the police—responsible for maintaining internal security—and even criticized the DSS, whose officers are tasked with generating actionable intelligence.

Both failed to prevent these vicious attacks from occurring. Additionally, HURIWA attributed the arson to individuals dissatisfied with local council elections taking place in Rivers State.

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In a statement released by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed that the security agencies failed to prevent the large-scale invasion of local councils by armed political terrorists.

These groups were allegedly sponsored to spark a crisis in Rivers State as a preliminary step towards declaring a state of emergency — an action which cannot ultimately dismantle the democratic structures established following the 2023 elections that supported the current government in Rivers State.

HURIWA noted that alleged political terrorists had torched a newly constructed part of the council secretariat in Isiokpo, situated within the Ikwerre Local Government area.

The group is calling on security forces to classify the attackers as terrorists and use counter-terrorism laws to suppress the uprising.

This comes just 24 hours after Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State inaugurated 23 chairmen who were elected in Saturday’s local government election.

HURIWA noted that on Monday, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun instructed the Rivers State Commissioner of Police to reopen the local government secretariats and remove officers stationed at various councils throughout the state.

HURIWA stated that any unrest in Rivers should be attributed to the security forces, which are legally required to protect citizens’ lives and properties, including public buildings. The rights group also urged the Inspector-General of Police to prevent political terrorists from repeatedly causing havoc in Rivers state.

The rights group also called for the DSS to identify and apprehend those responsible for orchestrating coordinated attacks on public buildings owned by local councils, as well as targeting the citizens of Rivers State.

HURIWA criticized the police for initially declaring their withdrawal of services in Rivers State during Saturday’s election, a move that was widely condemned by various segments of Nigerians, including the Nigerian Bar Association and democracy advocates.

HURIWA urges politicians to prioritize peace and adhere to the law. The Rights group emphasizes that law enforcement agencies must remain neutral and should not treat any politician, regardless of their influence or power, as above the law; failing this could lead to chaos in Nigeria.

They also stated that individuals who set local council buildings on fire should be regarded as political terrorists akin to Boko Haram insurgents.