Amidst the on going protest over the tenure of the outgoing local government chairmen in Rivers State, there have been reports of terrifying gunshots at the Port Harcourt City Council on Tuesday morning.
The youths have pointed accusing fingers to the policemen, who allegedly fired into the air to scare away scores of Ijaw youths who came to demonstrate at the Council’s Secretariat against the continuation of tenure.
An eye witness, who described the incident, refusing to mention his name for fear of being identified, disclosed that they were at the Secretariat to carry out a peaceful demonstration against the immediate past local government council chairmen, Allwell Ihunda, who they claimed had vowed not to vacate office despite the expiration of his tenure on June 17.
He, however, alleged that policemen started shooting in their direction as soon as they sighted the youths.
He said, “We are Ijaw youths and are here on a peaceful demonstration against those whose tenure has expired but refused to vacate their office.
“We are not here to make trouble. We were just on a peaceful demonstration, but surprisingly the police started shooting at us. ”
Speaking, one of the leaders of Port Harcourt City youths, identified as Ichemanti, alleged that one of the protesting youths was shot at by the police.
When the police force was contacted, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she got reports of the gunshots in the area but stated that it was not from the police.
Iringe-Koko said, “It is not the police that are shooting. Our men have been deployed already to identify and apprehend those disturbing the peace.
“As I speak to you now, the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police are on patrol. Policemen that have been deployed there and they are visible.
“We will ensure nobody takes the laws into their hands under our watch. The CP on Monday said the police is ready to do its job, and that is what we are doing.”
