By Kolawole Ojebisi
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has advanced reasons why he established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the arson, killings, and destruction of property at several Local Government Council headquarters in the State.
This follows Monday’s attacks by unidentified hoodlums, who targeted the council offices just 24 hours after the newly elected council bosses were sworn in following Saturday’s elections.
The formation of the commission was announced in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Tammy Wenike Danagogo, on Tuesday. The commission of Inquiry will be tasked with probing the violent incidents that occurred on or around October 7, 2024.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has named a seven-man panel to investigate the arson, killings and destruction of property in several local government secretariats in the state.
The seven-man panel, which the governor called a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, is expected to ensure that perpetrators of of the heinous crimes of killing and destruction are brought to book.
The members of the the commission were sworn in on Tuesday (today) at 4pm.at the Executive Council Chambers in Government House, Port Harcourt.
This move was contained in a statement released by the media aide to governor
The statement outlined the governor’s approval under Section 2(1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law, Cap 30, Laws of Rivers State, 1999.
The members of the commission are as follows:
Hon. Justice I.R. Minakiri – Chairman
Barr. Felicia Nwoke – Member
Prof. Blessing Didia – Member
Sir Samuel Egbe – Member
Venerable Alex Usifor – Member
Barr. Uzor Ikenga – Counsel to the Commission
Mrs. Inyingi Brown – Secretary
The commission is expected to begin its work promptly in an effort to uncover the facts surrounding the attacks, identify those responsible, and recommend appropriate actions.
Rivers State has been in embroiled in crisis for months.
The origin of the crisis is the rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor in office, Nyesom Wike.
The rift also fragmented the Peoples Democratic Party into two camps.
The Pro-Wike and the Pro-Fubara camps.
The Wike faction was against the conduct of local government elections in the state
The other faction canvassed vigorously for the conduct of the local government elections.
This resulted in legal tussles with each faction getting court injunctions that suit their intentions.
The elections eventually took place with the All Peoples Party wining in 22 of the 23 local governments in the state.
The only remaining local government was won by the Action Alliance.
Following the announcement and swearing in of the newly elected chairmen, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the withdrawal of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force from the state.
All the local government secretariats were also unsealed.
But hours after the unsealing of secretariats, some hoodlums descended on three of the facilities and set them ablaze.
