By Philip Ezuma, Port Harcourt and Eunice Orike, Abuja
The police in Port Harcourt Rivers State, shot teargas canisters on people on peaceful demonstration, against ‘Hardship in the country,’ ‘Autocratic Government’ and ‘State of Emergency in Rivers State’ yesterday.
The protest march which was rather peaceful, commenced at Isaac Boro park, Mile 1, at about 10 am, from where the peaceful crowd moved towards the CFC bus stop, where the police attacked them with the canisters to forcefully disperse them
The reporter of the Arise TV, Charles Opurum, the AIT camera man among other journalists were man handled, for covering the event. The AIT camera was beaten and his camera seized by the police, but later returned it, just like the case of Mr Opurum, who was arrested, but was later released.
When the police Public Relations Officer PPRO Superintendent of Police SP Grace Iringe-Koko, was contacted for comments, she said, the police beat miscreants, who wanted to steal people’s personal effects.
The protesters like their fellows in Abuja, Lagos and other cities bore placards with inscriptions as; ‘Stop State of Emergency in Rivers State’, ‘Enough of the Autocratic Govt’, among others.
Also, in Abuja men of the Nigeria police deployed tear gas to disperse protesters along the Maitama district on Monday.
The protest, led by Omoyele Sowore, 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, was part of a nationwide action organised by the Take It Back Movement.
The protesters were demanding repeal of the Cybercrime Act, calling for the abolition of this law, which they believe infringes on their fundamental human rights.
