Police Teargas, Assault Protesters in Port Harcourt
On Monday morning, officers from the Rivers State Police Command forcefully dispersed protesters gathered at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, using tear gas and physically assaulting several individuals, including journalists.
The demonstrators, members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’, had convened around 9 a.m. to protest the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
However, they were met with a heavy police presence and were soon chased away from the park as officers resorted to the use of force.
According to Channels Television, some of the protesters and media personnel were reportedly beaten during the crackdown.
Ahead of the protest, the police had warned against any form of demonstration. The Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, speaking on Sunday, dismissed the protest as “unwarranted,” stating that the federal government had designated April 7 as National Police Day to honor law enforcement officers.
He also criticized the protesters’ choice of venue, claiming it was already designated for police activities that day.
In his words: “What is the rationale behind that kind of protest that is not warranted? The federal government has announced that every 7th of April is National Police Day.
Suddenly, a group called the Take It Back Movement wants to stage a nationwide protest on the same day.”
He further emphasized the importance of the occasion, stating that it was a global norm to celebrate police institutions and that the Nigerian government was merely joining in to acknowledge the resilience and dedication of its police force.
Despite police warnings, the demonstrators insisted on their right to assemble peacefully. In defiance, they told the officers, “Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people.”
Police Teargas, Assault Protesters in Port Harcourt
