Following recent attacks on local government secretariats in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has established a seven-member panel to investigate the incidents and identify those responsible.
The panel was inaugurated on Tuesday, October 8, at the Government House in Port Harcourt. Addressing the panel, Governor Fubara vowed to bring perpetrators of the violence to justice and prevent future occurrences.
Chaired by Judge Ibiwengi Roseline Minakiri, the panel includes six other members and is tasked with submitting its report within one month. The investigation will focus on the root causes of the violence, the individuals involved, and the potential connections to recent elections.
The violence erupted on Monday, October 7, when hoodlums attacked three LGA secretariats in Emohua, Eleme, and Ikwerre, resulting in the deaths of five people. These incidents followed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) elections held on October 5, which saw the Action Peoples Party (APP) win 22 of the 23 LGAs.
The elections were marred by controversy, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposing the process. Despite a court order barring security agencies from providing support, Governor Fubara proceeded with the elections.
The panel’s findings are expected to shed light on the motivations behind the violence and the legal challenges surrounding the elections.
