The Nigeria Police Command in Rivers, has denied claims that its personnel deliberately attacked Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers during his visit to the state House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt.
Mr Fubara alleged that some policemen shot, tear-gassed and used water cannons on him and his aides while on his way to assess the arsonist-damaged state parliament building on Monday.
A video trending on the social media also confirmed the governor’s claims drew wide condemnation from Nigerians across the country.
Reacting, the Spokesperson for the Police Command in Rivers, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, denied the deliberate attack on the governor in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
She said the anti-protest policemen deployed to secure the state House of Assembly from further attacks were unaware the governor was among the crowd approaching the facility.
Mr Iringe-Koko said “Following the receipt of credible intelligence on the intention of some armed group of persons to cause mayhem, particularly at the House of Assembly, armed police operatives were deployed.
“Also, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (DC Ops) deployed the operatives going by the previous case of arson on the assembly building.
“The DC Ops personally supervised (the police operatives) to intercept the ‘hoodlums’ and ensure the protection of lives and properties within the assembly facility and its environs.
Mr Iringe-Koko said during the operation, that protesting youths numbering over 100 stationed at the entrance of the assembly complex, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.
“This led to the Police deploying non-lethal crowd control equipment including tear gas and water cannon to disperse the riotous and uncontrollable protesters.
“However, some minutes later, another aggressive group of people approached the entrance of the complex and advanced toward the premises.
“The Police therefore engaged them in a like manner but observed the Governor Siminalayi of Rivers State, was in their midst.
“The presence of the governor at the scene was of great surprise and shock as there was no prior communication to the Police on his visit to the scene (assembly building),” she stated.
NAN
