Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned police and judges against actions that could destabilize Rivers State, urging them not to bow to political pressures during the ongoing local government elections.

In a statement, Jonathan criticized the Nigeria Police’s role and called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take action against judges issuing conflicting rulings related to the elections. He warned that unrest in Rivers State could spread, threatening the entire Niger Delta.

Jonathan emphasized the importance of fair elections, urging political actors to prioritize the public’s well-being over personal interests. He called on security agencies and state institutions to uphold the rule of law and protect democracy, warning that the situation in Rivers State could mirror past regional crises that harmed national stability.

An explosive, believed to be dynamite, detonated at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, early today, causing damage to windows, gates, and parts of the building.

APC faction leader, Tony Okocha, attributed the attack to political motives, accusing Governor Siminalayi Fubara of orchestrating it amidst local government election tensions.

The police are yet to comment, while voting continues in Port Harcourt despite the Rivers State Police’s decision not to provide security, citing a court order.

Ogun State Police have arrested 29-year-old Ogunnaike Phillips, a suspected serial killer, rapist, and member of the Aye confraternity, for the brutal murder of 17-year-old Habeebah Akinsanya. The victim was raped and killed on her father’s farm in Abeokuta.

Phillips also confessed to murdering three other young women and burying their bodies in remote areas.

His accomplice, Danjuma, remains at large. Phillips, who demanded the death penalty, admitted to luring victims, extorting ransom, and eventually killing them. Authorities are intensifying efforts to apprehend the rest of the gang.