Police Beat Up, Fire Teargas At Protesters In Port Harcourt

Officers of the Rivers State Police Command on Monday morning gave the protesters gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt a hot chase and fired tear gas at them.

Naija News learnt that the protesters, who are members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’, were greeted by heavy police presence when they gathered at the protest venue as early as 9 am over the state of emergency declared in the state.

According to Channels Television, the police officers reportedly beat up some of the protesters, including journalists reporting the event.

The young demonstrators told the policemen who warned them not to hold the protest that, “Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people.” 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has faulted the intention of organizers of the April 7 protest.

Speaking with Channels TV on Sunday, the Police spokesman stated that the protest was unwarranted.

He argued that the federal government had set out the day to honour men of the Nigeria Police.

He also faulted the protest organizer’s choice of venue, noting that the venue was a place police would be using for their activities on April 1.

His words: “We are trying to caution them not to come out and protest. What is the rationale behind that kind of a protest that is not warranted? We have made an announcement, the federal government has announced that every 7th of April is National Police Day. Suddenly, people, a group, I think it’s Take It Back Movement, said they want to have a protest, mass protest across the country.

“On the same day, the Nigerian government wants to celebrate its own police. Celebrating police institutions across the world is a global thing. Every nation has marked a particular day to celebrate its own police. And the Nigerian government has been kind enough to appreciate the resilience, commitment, and dedication of officers and men of the Nigerian police force. And I marked a date, April 7th, to celebrate the police.”