Rivers LG poll: Threatening to shed blood, burn down state not acceptable — IGP Egbetokun cautions Fubara

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has cautioned Governor Siminalayi Fubara of River State from making “unfounded allegations” against him.

He said that threatening to shed blood and burn down the state because of a local government election is not acceptable to the police.

The statement comes after Fubara said Egbetokun will be held accountable if law and order break down in the state.

The governor had intervened in an incident at the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, on Friday morning.

He prevented an alleged attempt by the police to remove materials meant for the upcoming local government elections.

The development comes amidst an ongoing political crisis in Rivers State over the scheduled Saturday’s local government election.

However, Egbetokun, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said it was shocking to see Governor Fubara storm the RSIEC office.

Part of the statement read: “The Nigeria Police Force has noted with concern the recent statements made by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, in which several unfounded allegations were levelled against the Office of the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force. In light of these claims, it has become necessary to set the record straight.

“The Nigeria Police takes exception to the unwarranted outburst of the Governor and particularly the weighty accusations which he falsely levied against the Inspector-General of Police and the entire Nigeria Police Force and advise caution and decency in the pursuit of individual political goals.