VIDEO: Gunshots as youths protest at Rivers LG secretariat

As the controversy over the tenures of Rivers State’s outgoing local government chairmen continues, intermittent gunshots were heard inside the Port Harcourt City Council on Tuesday morning.

It was reported that police officers shot heavily into the air to frighten away dozens of Ijaw youths who had congregated at the Council’s Secretariat to protest the tenure extension.

One of the protesters, who refused to give his name for fear of being identified, stated that they were at the Secretariat to hold a peaceful demonstration against the immediate past local government council chairmen, Allwell Ihunda, who they claimed had vowed not to leave office despite the expiration of his term on June 17.

 

He, however, alleged that policemen started shooting in their direction as soon as they sighted the youths.

He said, “We are Ijaw youths and are here on a peaceful demonstration against those whose tenure has expired but refused to vacate their office.

“We are not here to make trouble. We were just on a peaceful demonstration, but surprisingly the police started shooting at us. ”

Speaking, one of the leaders of Port Harcourt City youths, identified as Ichemanti, said that one of the protesting teenagers was shot by police.

The gunshots could be heard far away, heightening the anxiety in the metropolis.

The Port Harcourt City Council sits between the State Police Command and the State House of Assembly complex, both of which were bombed by suspected arsonists during the state’s political crisis last year.

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When contacted, Grace Iringe-Koko, spokeswoman for the State Police Command, stated that she was aware of reports of gunshots in the vicinity, but that they were not from the police.

 

Iringe-Koko stated, “It’s not the cops who are firing. “Our men have been deployed to identify and apprehend those disrupting the peace.”As I talk with you, the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police are on patrol. Police officers have been stationed there and are visible.

“Under our watch, no one will take the law into their own hands. The CP stated on Monday that the police are ready to execute their jobs, which is exactly what they are doing.