Rivers protesters suspend demonstration

NUJ condemns attack on journalists

Calmness returned to Rivers State yesterday after a chaotic day six and seven of the #EndBadgovernance protest, as some hoodlums hijacked the process, extorting traders, and motorists, as well as damaging some valuables.

The situation made some businesses, including banks, to shut down. However, checks by The Guardian, yesterday, showed that commercial activities have resumed across the metropolis with many shops and businesses now open.

Nevertheless, activities at the Federal Secretariat, along Aba Road where the protesters usually gather before taking off, were still grounded as police vans were stationed around the area with security operatives present and anti-protest protesters seen loitering around the axis.

One of the leaders, Gogo Waliton, said that they are reviewing the activities that led to the disruption of their peaceful protest. He also alleged that the genuine protesters were teargassed by security operatives along Port Harcourt Pleasure Park on Wednesday.

He said: “We are reviewing the current situation because we don’t want a situation where protesters will suffer a loss like other areas where some persons reportedly lost some valuables to hoodlums. All the protests we have organised so far have been peaceful; the people have conducted themselves well and peacefully, but some sponsored youths want to hijack it.”

Also, the Civil Rights Council Chairman in the state, Lemoha Dumle, said that they had to postpone the protest to avoid casualties after hoodlums attacked some demonstrators in the state.

He said: “We observed that some hoodlums were already at the Federal Secretariat where we used to gather to hijack the process today; so, to protect citizens from getting injured, we decided to withdraw from the protest.”

He wondered if the anti-protest protesters, most of whom are unemployed youths, are not hungry.

“ We do not know if the anti-protest protesters, who are fellow youths, who were attacking the genuine protesters, are not hungry. Maybe they have collected money from the politicians to stop the protest.”

MEANWHILE, a group called Concerned Youths of Rivers State, which was opposed to the protest, earlier grouped themselves and chased away some protesters who had earlier gathered near the Federal Secretariat, yesterday morning of Day 8 of the protest.

The group claimed that it took the action, considering that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums who were looting shops and harassing residents, as well as motorists.

They pointed out that the initial motive of the protest had been defeated by the actions of the hoodlums, stating that they would not allow such to continue in the state.

Meanwhile, checks show the Choba, Obiri-Ikwere axis of the East-West Road, which was barricaded with burned tyres, had been cleared, as motorists and other road users were seen moving freely.

However, the Rivers State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned attacks on journalists covering the protest in Port Harcourt.

Chairman of the union, Stanley Job Stanley, said that the actions of the attackers are a threat to the freedom of expression and information.