The Rivers State Police Command has made it clear that, during Monday’s protest at the State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt, its agents did not intentionally attack Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to the Police Command, the governor and his entourage unexpectedly entered the melee without first notifying the Police Force, as is customary, while its agents stationed at the State House Assembly were fighting to subdue demonstrating youths who could cause chaos.
The explanation is provided more than 48 hours after Governor Fubara claimed that police officers, under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, had opened fire on him directly as he was making his way to the State House of Assembly building to speak to young people who were protesting.
The youths had congregated in front of the Assembly building to demonstrate against what they perceived to be a scheme by lawmakers who support Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to remove the governor from office.
The DCP (Operations) only took intentional security measures to ensure the safety and protection of the governor, according to the Police Command’s statement, which was signed by Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), on Wednesday. The governor and his entourage then proceeded to assess the extent of damage caused by arsonists at the State House of Assembly complex earlier on Sunday night.
“Following the receipt of credible intelligence on the intention of some armed group of persons to cause mayhem in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, particularly at the State House of Assembly on Monday 30th October, and recalling the previous case of arson on the State House of Assembly a day prior which is currently being investigated, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations immediately deployed armed police operatives which he personally supervised in order to intercept the ‘hoodlums’ and ensure the protection of lives and properties within the State House of Assembly facility and its environ.
“At the entrance of the Complex, it was observed that youths numbering over a hundred had begun a protest to gain access to the Complex and conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
“This led to the Police deploying non-lethal crowd control equipment including tear gas and water cannon to disperse the riotous and uncontrollable protesters.
“However, some minutes later, another aggressive group of persons approached the entrance of the complex and advanced towards the premises. The Police therefore engaged them in like manner but observed that the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, was in their midst.
“The presence of the Governor at the scene was of great surprise and shock as there was no prior communication to the Police on the visit of the Governor to the scene of the crime which ordinarily is the usual protocol and complimentary that we accompany his guard for proper safety considering the intelligence of security threat at hand then.
“In consideration of this, the DC Ops quickly took deliberate security steps to ensure his protection and safety, while the Governor and his entourage went on to assess the level of damage caused by the fire incident.
“Thus, it’s pertinent to state that the Police did not deliberately attack the Governor, or even attempt to hurt anyone let alone the Chief Executive and security officer of the state which it’s our most essential role to protect as being peddled in the news. Due to the present situation, and the misrepresentation in some sections of the media, it is pertinent to make this clarification.
“Similarly, the Rivers State Police Command has emplaced adequate security measures to ensure that the situation de-escalates and total calm is restored in the affected areas.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, psc, LLB, Ph.D., has urged all residents of the state to go about their lawful duties and support the Police and other security agencies to collectively ensure that absolute peace is restored in Port Harcourt and Rivers State at large,” the PPRO stated.
