Sporadic gunfire erupted at the Port Harcourt City Council on Tuesday morning amid escalating tensions over the tenure of outgoing local government chairmen in Rivers State.
Police fired shots into the air to disperse scores of Ijaw youths who were protesting at the Council’s Secretariat against the tenure extension of the immediate past local government council chairman, Allwell Ihunda, who they claimed refused to vacate office despite his term ending on June 17.
One protester, who spoke anonymously, said the youths had gathered for a peaceful demonstration when the police began shooting in their direction.
“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. ”he said.
Another protest leader, identified as Ichemanti, alleged that one of the protesting youths was shot by the police.
The incident heightened tension in the area, with gunshots audible from a distance. The Port Harcourt City Council is near the State Police Command and the State House of Assembly complex, which was bombed during a political crisis last year.
State Police Command spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed reports of gunshots but denied they were fired by police. She stated, “It is not the police that are shooting. Our men have been deployed already to identify and apprehend those disturbing the peace.
She added that the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police were patrolling the area to maintain order. “We will ensure nobody takes the laws into their hands under our watch. The CP on Monday said the police are ready to do their job, and that is what we are doing,” Iringe-Koko affirmed.
