Protesters scatter as police fire teargas in Rivers
A tense confrontation unfolded in Rivers State on Monday as police clashed with protesters demanding the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the return of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The protesters, affiliated with the ‘Take It Back Movement’ and other Civil Society Organisations, gathered at Isaac Boro Park but were reassigned another location and while proceeding to the designated location they were teargassed and forced to disperse.
Eyewitnesses reported that police fired teargas at the crowd, causing chaos and injuring several protesters, including journalists.
The officers also chased protesters at the CFC roundabout, with some demonstrators beaten during the incident.
The protesters took to the streets to demand the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, which they claim infringes on citizens’ rights and freedoms. They also called for the reinstatement of Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, arguing that the current state administration is unconstitutional.
The Take it Back Movement Coordinator in Rivers State, Amanye King, explained, “We are here as an organisation affiliated with other organisations to match and express our grievances; we are not here to cause any harm and the security agencies are here dispersing our people.
“We want the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, and as Rivers people, we are here to speak against the unconstitutional removal of our elected governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly. We are here to demand a government for the people of Rivers State because as it stands now we do not have a government.
“This government is alien to our people, unconstitutional and we are here to demand that our Governor is returned.
“We have a social contract with the governor and not with the Sole Administrator. This is democracy, we are here to match against these issues.”
Also, the coordinator of the Coalition of the Rivers State Civil Society, Solomon Lenu, said, “It is important for Rivers People to understand that what is happening in Nigeria is a rape on democracy because there is no reason whatsoever why an elected government will be suspended for no just cause. We are in a democracy not in a dictatorship system.
According to eyewitnesses, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) initially instructed the protesters to relocate to the Federal Secretariat along Aba Road, designating it as a safer venue.
However, as the protesters approached the CFC roundabout, police officers providing security were suddenly blocked by another team and instructed the demonstrators to disperse and began firing teargas canisters.
READ ALSO: Protesters shun warnings, hit major streets in Abuja, Lagos, Rivers
The protesters, insisting on continuing their demonstration, were met with increasing intensity of teargas, forcing them to flee and disperse.
The eyewitnesses said, “They were there and the DPO came and addressed them and told them that they should leave that particular place, which is Isaac Boro Park, where the protest was scheduled to hold initially and move to Federal Secretariat along Aba Road, which is the designated location for them to carry out their protest.
“So while they were about going to the Federal Secretariat, around the CFC roundabout where there is the Catholic Church, when they got to the roundabout, the same police officers that were actually providing security were double crossed, we saw several security vehicles double cross us and asked their colleagues to go back that we can not continue the protest.
“So at that point, the protesters insisted that the protest will go on, that they had given them the Aba Road venue to gather there and carry out their protest. The police were adamant that it is no longer safe for them to carry on the protest, that they disperse at that point in time. And just from behind, the police started firing canisters of teargas at the protesters.
“The intensity of the teargas increased and the protesters could not bear it because it was choking and they all fled and tagged around that area and dispersed. Even military personnel were part of the team, about 15 security patrol vehicles moving around, chasing people all around, moving from Aba Road chasing people suspected to be protesters.
“The DPO of that particular place of GRA axis told the protesters that they should leave that particular place that they have made available a place at the Federal Secretariat to muster,” eyewitnesses reported.
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