According to Punch, The South-East, South-South Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) have urged the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, to immediately withdraw policemen who have been laying siege to Rivers State local government secretariats since June 17.
The group condemned the police action as "manifestly illegal, baseless, rootless, and irresponsible" and threatened legal action and peaceful protests if the siege continues.
The police takeover of the LG secretariats followed violence and a dispute over the tenure of local government chairmen, which the state government insists has expired. The chairmen, however, claim they can remain in office for another six months.
The SESSPN argued that the police have no legal basis for occupying the LG secretariats and are preventing workers from performing their duties. They called for an end to the siege, warning that it could lead to a constitutional crisis.
Meanwhile, the caretaker committee chairmen appointed by the state government have commenced work outside their respective council areas, and some have begun implementing programs to improve livelihoods in their communities.