The Rivers State Police Command has expressed concern over the escalating #EndBadGovernmentinNigeria protest in the state.The Command said that despite initial assurances of peaceful demonstrations within designated areas, it has observed a disturbing trend.
 
According to the police, the protest has become increasingly disorganised, with no clear leadership or coordination among participating groups.  The police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said that the breakdown has led to a breakdown of order, prompting the Command to issue a warning.
 
Iringe-Koko said that the police had initially offered to provide protection and to isolate criminal elements, but the lack of leadership has hindered efforts to maintain peace. She, however, warned that the Command will take decisive action against protesters who engage in violent and criminal conduct if the protest takes a dangerous turn.

She noted that the police have observed that protesters are resorting to unlawful acts, including burning tyres, extorting motorists, blocking roads, damaging vehicles, harassing business owners and stealing from innocent residents.  She added that a group had threatened to escalate the protest on August 7, calling on traders and motorists to stay at home or join the protest.  

“The protesters were earlier advised to conduct themselves peacefully within designated locations, while the police would provide adequate protection and isolate criminal elements,” she explained.

The police noted that they will take decisive action immediately if the protest ceases to be peaceful, and will ensure protesters remain in designated areas (Pleasure Park and Abali Park) and prevent disruption of citizens’ free movement and unlawful activities.

HOWEVER, the protesters have marched to the Port Harcourt residence of the former governor, now the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as the protest entered the sixth day.

In response, the police deployed additional personnel to the area to maintain order, and to ensure the safety of all parties involved. The protesters also took the demonstration to several rural communities across the 23 local councils of the state.

FURTHERMORE, the protesters, yesterday, also blocked a section of the East-West Road, defying police restrictions to approved venues. The protesters, who split into groups, burned tyres and blocked roads, causing gridlocks at the Obiri-Ikwerre axis and Rumuokoro end of the East-West Road.

Motorists were left stranded as the protesters chanted anti-government songs, demanded President Bola Tinubu’s resignation.
 
Despite the President’s directive to end the protest, the demonstrators remained resolute, calling for an end to hunger and bad governance. The police had earlier restricted the protest to two venues: Isaac Boro Park and Pleasure Park, both in the city centre.  However, the demonstrators ignored the directive, taking their grievances to the streets.
 
Igbaki, a protester, expressed determination to continue the demonstrations, saying: “We won’t get tired of this protest until day 10. We’re tired and hungry, and we say no to bad governance in Nigeria.”
 
Igbaki criticised President Tinubu’s recent broadcast, saying, “It’s nothing to write home about because he didn’t address any of the issues we raised for embarking on this protest. Tinubu must go; he has failed.”

The protesters, who vowed to occupy the street till the 10th day, lamented that they were  further grieved by the President’s broadcast on the ongoing protest. They said that the President failed to address the demands of the #EndBadGovernance protest but rather threatened Nigerians.

MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter, has  decried the destruction of its  secretariat, accusing the  state government of sponsoring protesters who allegedly perpetuated the act.

The APC Caretaker Committee Chairman in the state, Tony Okocha, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said that those who vandalised the party’s secretariat threatened to come back for another attack.

Okocha said: “Today, the issue in point is the vandalisation of the APC Secretariat situated at 268B Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway by hoodlums, who were arranged, sponsored by a source, which, in the course of this our engagement, I will reveal. I will name the source; we are not scared to name the source because the situation has become so political. 
 
“Of course, you ask yourself; why is it that it is the APC office that was targeted for destruction? It will not stop us from speaking for the people of Rivers State. It will not stop us from being diametrically opposed to a governor and a government that is clueless. It can’t.
 
“Our secretariat was attacked yesterday and they left us with a note that they are coming back. We don’t know whether coming back will be today or in the future. It was about 5:00 p.m. yesterday that they vandalised our secretariat complex. We pre-empted them because we knew and we anticipated what they would do. 
 
But, in a swift reaction, the state government denied sponsoring protesters to attack the APC secretariat, saying that it is not in the character of the current administration to embark on such ugly venture.