Ann-Kio Briggs: Rivers People May Be Forced To Defend Themselves If Not Protected Amid LG Violence

Following the recent local government elections in Rivers State, several local government areas have witnessed violent clashes and attacks on newly elected council officials.
According to Ann-Kio Briggs, a prominent Niger Delta activist, the unrest stems from the refusal of some outgoing local government leaders to accept the expiration of their tenures three months ago.
“We know exactly what is going on,” Briggs stated during an appearance on Channel TV Politics. “The specific LGs Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua that are on fire are the specific LGs that have refused to accept that their tenures have been over for 3 months. The leaders of these LGs are the ones that have called the governor all sorts of names.”
Briggs expressed concern over the role of the police in the escalating violence. She claimed that the police had withdrawn security from the 23 local government areas, leaving the newly elected officials vulnerable to attacks. “This morning, all of them were ordered to leave the local government areas, knowing fully well that there was going to be trouble, leaving the duly elected local government chairman to the dangers that is playing out on our television screens since morning in Rivers State,” she said.
In response to the unrest, President Tinubu has called on the governor of Rivers State to ensure the safety of the state. However, Briggs criticized this move, arguing that maintaining security is the responsibility of the police. “The police is supposed to keep the state and the property of the state government safe. And now that we are left naked by the whims of the police, we are being called upon to take responsibility for the fire that they have said that is raging in Rivers State. This is dangerous and it’s unacceptable to the people of Rivers State,” she asserted.
Briggs warned that if the people of Rivers State are not defended, they might be forced to take matters into their own hands. “If nobody is going to defend us, we are very likely going to have to be left to defend ourselves,” she stated.
The post Ann-Kio Briggs: Rivers People May Be Forced To Defend Themselves If Not Protected Amid LG Violence appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.

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