In a growing atmosphere of political uncertainty, tension flared in Rivers State on Monday as operatives of the Rivers State
Police Command forcefully dispersed a group of peaceful protesters. The demonstrators had gathered in Port Harcourt to voice their disapproval of what they described as the deteriorating state of governance in the country and to raise concerns over the looming threat of an emergency rule in the state.
The protest, which started peacefully, saw dozens of concerned residents—mostly youths and activists—marching through major streets with placards bearing messages such as “No to Emergency Rule,” “Rivers Deserves Peace,” and “We Demand Good Governance.”
Chanting slogans and demanding accountability, the protesters expressed fears that the imposition of an emergency rule would worsen the already tense political climate in the state.
However, the situation took a different turn when heavily armed police officers arrived at the scene. Eyewitnesses reported that without much warning, officers began firing tear gas canisters to scatter the crowd. Panic ensued as protesters scrambled for safety, with some sustaining minor injuries in the commotion.
One of the protesters, who identified herself simply as Joy, described the experience as traumatic. “We came out peacefully. We were not violent. All we wanted was for our voices to be heard. But the police treated us like criminals,” she said, her voice still shaky from the incident.
While police authorities are yet to issue a formal statement on the incident, human rights groups and civil society organizations have condemned the use of force, calling it a violation of citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly and free expression.
The protest comes amid rising political tension in Rivers State, following a power tussle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and some influential political figures. The ongoing crisis has fueled speculations that the federal government might consider imposing emergency rule as a means to restore order—a move that many fear could further destabilize the region.
Residents and political observers alike are urging the federal government to explore peaceful dialogue and democratic solutions instead of resorting to force or authoritarian measures.
As the dust settles from Monday’s protest, the people of Rivers State are left with more questions than answers about the future of their democracy, peace, and governance.
Stay tuned to NIGPOST for real-time updates and in-depth coverage on this developing story.
Leave a Reply