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#EndBadGovernance: Police, protesters‘ clash averted in Port-Harcourt
A potentially explosive confrontation between protesting youths and the counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria Police Force was narrowly averted on Friday, the second day of the nationwide hunger protest.
Trouble began when the operatives, on a show of force along Aba Road, encountered the protesters at Pleasure Park. The police demanded that the youths vacate the road, but they refused, chanting “No! No! How many people will police kill?”
Tension escalated as armed operatives alighted from their trucks, but protest leaders intervened, urging the youths to clear the road, and calmness was restored.
Read Also: Police releases #EndBadGovernance protesters in Lagos
Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, arrived at the scene, commending the protesters for their peaceful conduct. He appealed to them not to block roads, emphasizing their right to protest while respecting the rights of others.
Disu assured the protesters that they would not be intimidated or harassed as long as they remained peaceful, leaving a Deputy Commissioner of Police to monitor the situation.
He said, “I must commend you for being peaceful and conducting yourselves well since yesterday when this protest began. It is your right to protest, but please don’t do anything that will disrupt public peace and don’t infringe on the rights of other citizens.
“I have an appeal. Please don’t block the roads. Don’t block the road. If you do so, you will be infringing on the rights of others who are using the roads.
“I will leave the Deputy Commissioner of Police with you and I assure you that nobody and no officer will intimidate nor harass you as long as you continue to conduct yourselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.”
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