The Rivers State Police Command is not forthcoming on any plan to avert a looming clash between a political group, New Associates and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), over the choice of venue for an event both groups scheduled for today at the Government Secondary School, Abalama, in Asari Tolu Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The New Assocites had scheduled a thanksgiving and civic reception for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, at the venue, while the IYC Eastern Zone, also scheduled an emergency meeting to prepare for an enlarged meeting to deliberate on what they called, the denigration of the Ijaw ethnic nationality by the FCT minister.
The traditional ruler of Abalama community where the events are slated, Dr. A.B. Big-TomTom had cancelled both events advising the organizers to choose elsewhere to avoid bloodshed in his kingdom.
He also wrote to the state commissioner of police, informing him of the decision of his council of chiefs on the slated events.
Also, the forum of traditional rulers of Kalabari Ethnic Nationality raised the alarm of a possible breakdown of law and order in Kalabari land, in view of the two events taking place at the same venue today.
In a statement issued by the chiefs of Kalabari land, they alerted the state governor, and heads of security agencies in the state on the need to avert a potential violent clash on March 15, 2025, in Kalabari land between the two opposing groups that could lead to bloodshed.
“The urgency of our alarm follows a plan by a political pressure group to hold a civic reception at the Community Secondary School Field, Abalama in Asari-Toru Local Government Area, the same venue where the Ijaw Youth Council, Eastern Zone, also plans to hold its congress this weekend.
“We are concerned that the clash of venues for the planned events by the two opposing groups, if not addressed, may cause a possible breach of peace and order in the area.
“This could potentially threaten the existing peace in Abalama Community and the rest of Kalabari land.
“The traditional rulers of the Kalabari Ethnic Nationality therefore, appeal to both parties to relocate their events elsewhere, possibly outside Kalabari land, to avert a possible violent clash in the area.
“Kalabari Land cannot be the epicenter of such impending crisis. We call for an outright cancellation of all activities slated for Saturday, 15th March 2025, at the Abalama Community Secondary School field, regardless of whether permission was previously sought and granted or not, to avoid any crisis in Kalabari land.
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“Better still, we advise both parties to choose different days, and venues should they wish to hold such activities on our land,” the chiefs said.
It was learnt that the IYC considered it a big slap on the Ijaws that after dishing out “gratitious” insult on the Ijaw people by the FCT minister, the same minister will be coming to Ijawland to be celebrated.
On Friday, a security outfit, Royal Fouche Services Limited, which has been providing security along the Emohua-Kalabari Road, announced the withdrawal of their services from March 14, till further notice.
The company said their action followed intelligence reports, indicating a planned attack to discredit the company and endanger its personnel.
The company further attributed their action to a petition written to the security agencies by Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo about a group planning a thanksgiving on March 15, 2025, which they plan to use as a cover to attack the area and rupture the existing peace.
The security company has over time succeeded in cleaning up the Emohia-Kalabari Road axis, notorious for kidnapping, bringing respite to travelers.
Meanwhile, the state police command has not reacted to the looming security breach.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Grace Iringe-Koko did not answer calls nor respond to WhatsApp messages.
An announcement on radio Saturday morning, by the Chairman, Publicity Committee for the Wike reception, Alabo Enemi George, insisted that the ceremony will hold, urging the public to ignore social media reports suggesting that the programme had been cancelled.
