Rivers Police Clarify Actions Regarding Governor Fubara shooting Incident.
The Rivers State Police Command has provided clarification on the recent incident involving the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during a protest at the state’s House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The command explained that the use of water cannons and tear gas was not a deliberate attack on the governor but a measure to disperse protesters and ensure the safety of the governor and the premises.
According to a statement from the state police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, the police received credible intelligence about a group’s intention to cause mayhem at the State House of Assembly. Given the previous incident of arson at the assembly, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations deployed armed police personnel to safeguard the premises.
Upon arrival, the police observed a large group of protesting youths attempting to gain access to the complex, potentially leading to a breach of peace. To control the situation, the police used non-lethal crowd control equipment, including tear gas and water cannons.
However, another group of aggressive individuals later approached the complex, and the police took similar measures. The surprise came when Governor Siminalayi Fubara was found in their midst. The police stated that there had been no prior communication about the governor’s visit, which is the usual protocol for ensuring his safety.
The Deputy Commissioner of Operations quickly took steps to protect the governor and his entourage while they assessed the damage caused by the fire incident at the assembly complex. The police emphasized that their actions were not a deliberate attack on the governor and that their primary role is to protect public officials, especially the Chief Executive and security officer of the state.
The Rivers State Police Command has implemented additional security measures to de-escalate the situation and restore calm in the affected areas.
The incident involved the police using water cannons and tear gas on the governor’s entourage as they tried to access the burnt Rivers State House of Assembly Complex, which had been at the center of a crisis among state lawmakers. The governor accused security agencies of bias and claimed that they had directly shot at him amid the ongoing crisis in the state.
