JUST IN: IGP Directs Immediate Withdrawal of Police Personnel from Rivers State LGAs

Kayode Egbetokun, The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has instructed the immediate withdrawal of police personnel stationed to secure the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.

The announcement was made on Monday through a statement by Grace Iringe-Koko, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Command, citing recent political developments in the state as the reason for this decision.

“The newly deployed State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, conveyed the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.”

The statement emphasized that the decision “is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.”

It further clarified that personnel will only be redeployed to those areas if there was a crisis or breakdown of law and order, at which point emergency measures would be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.

The Rivers State Command assured the public of its continued commitment to maintaining peace and order across the state, while reiterating its professional conduct in carrying out its duties.

Residents and stakeholders were urged to remain calm and law-abiding as the situation unfolds.