PORT HARCOURT – The Rivers State Police Command said the ongoing nationwide protest against bad governance has been compromised by miscreants in the state.
Public Relations Officer for the state police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, raised the alarm in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the original organisers of the protest have lost control, hence the crowd were now attacking law abiding citizens.
Iringe-Koko, disclosed that the police had observed the so-called protesters resorting to harassment of residents going about their lawful businesses and destroying properties.
She said, “The Rivers State Police Command has become aware that the ongoing protests in the state have been hijacked by hoodlums, resulting in criminal activities. The original organizers have lost control of the crowd.
“The so-called protesters have resorted to harassing other residents going about their lawful business activities.
“They have disrupted traffic flow, forced passersby to attach leaflets to their vehicles, erected canopies on main roads, destroyed billboards, threatened traders to cease operations, and set tires ablaze on the roads – actions that are uncharacteristic of a peaceful protest.
The police spokesperson in the state, however adviced the protesters to regulate their protest within the approved locations including Abali Park and Pleasure Park, warning that anyone found disturbing the peace in the state would be resisted by the police.
“Protesters are advised to confine their activities to the designated areas of Abali Park and Pleasure Park. Any disturbance of the peace will be firmly resisted, and individuals found taking the law into their own hands will be arrested and prosecuted.
“The police hereby warn that the situation has been taken over by hoodlums and call on parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards.
“Protesters are strongly advised to restrict themselves to the designated protest areas. The Rivers State Police Command will not tolerate any breach of peace or unlawful activities, and will take decisive action to restore order and protect the safety of all residents.”
