The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Friday, August 2, 2024, averted what could have been a bloody clash between the Nigeria Police Force and youths of Rivers State indigenes protesting against #Endbadgovernance on second day of protest in
Port Harcourt.
The clash was averted when the CP, on being briefed concerning the brewing clash quickly advanced to the scene and addressed the protesters and appealed to them not to block the roads.
According to an eyewitness, trouble started when men of the counter-terrorism Unit, who were allegedly on a show of force along the popular Aba Road and ran into the protesters at the Pleasure Park.
It was gathered that the operatives who crammed in several patrol trucks ordered the protesters to leave the road to pave way for them, but the protesters allegedly refused to obey the order and in the process started chanting ‘no,!! no’ !! songs “how many people police go kill”
Tension went high at the moment as the armed operatives insisted that the protesters vacate the road with some alighting from their truck parading their riffles and ready to go with maximum force which created tension at the moment
As the armed operatives brewed in anger, and sensing danger, the leaders of the protest immediately intervened and persuaded the angry youths to clear the road and calmed the frayed nerves.
It was then that the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who got hint of the near clash quickly moved to the scene and addressed the protesters, appealing to them leave the roads.
“I must commend you for being peaceful and conducting yourselves well since yesterday when this protest began
” It is your right to protest, but please don’t do anything that will disrupt public peace and don’t infringe on the rights of other citizens
“I have an appeal. Please don’t block the roads. Don’t block the road. If you do so you will be infringing on the rights of others who are using the roads
” I will leave the Deputy Commissioner of Police with you and I assure you that nobody and no officer will intimidate or harrass you as long as you continue to conduct yourselves in a peaceful and orderly manner, ” Disu said.
One of the protesters responding to the CP, assured him of their willingness to corporate with the security agencies adding that they had being peaceful since the first day of the protest on Thursday and will remain so.
“Sir, I hope the DC is peaceful? Since yesterday we have been protesting peacefully and we went to the Government House where the Governor addressed us.
” But please tell your men not to intimidate us. We are on a peaceful protest against bag government in Nigeria. We want the return of fuel subsidy. We call on the President to also subsidise electricity. There is so much hunger, poverty and suffering. The cost of living is too much…
The protesters, however continued their match which they terminated at the Federal Secretariat, where they are holding a rally.
