In Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, there was fear on Wednesday morning when armed thugs attacked peaceful protesters at the #EndBadGovernance rally. The thugs stood near the Federal Secretariat, scaring off the demonstrators.
Some witnesses said two protesters were hurt while the police did nothing. A ChannelsTV reporter was also threatened by the thugs, who said they were there to stop the protest.
The Federal Secretariat along the Port Harcourt/Aba express road has been a focal point for protesters during the hunger and #EndBadGovernance demonstrations over the past week.
The passivity of over 20 police officers, who witnessed these events without taking action, raises concerns about security and upholding the right to protest in Rivers State.
When approached, the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, expressed unease about the situation and assured a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
The Rivers State Police Commissioner made multiple recent visits to protest sites, ensuring professionalism and peace. He even gave snacks to peaceful Port Harcourt demonstrators as a thank-you.
On the seventh day of nationwide protests, some Northern states saw violence. Initially, Rivers police were tasked with arresting and prosecuting those inciting violence during the protests.
