…dismiss assault of protesters

By Davies Iheamnachor

PORT HARCOURT: The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed reports that its operatives have sealed off the office of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, to stop them from conducting the local government council elections scheduled for Saturday.

The police noted that the report was false, adding that its operatives were there to maintain law and order.

Tuesday, while the police dispersed youths who were gathering themselves to commence the scheduled protest in the state, some heavily armed officers had cordoned off the RSIEC office in Port Harcourt.

It would be recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Peter Lifu’s had restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from releasing the Voter’s Register used in the 2023 elections to RSIEC.

Tuesday, there were reports that the police mobilisation at RSIEC office was to stop the election from holding on Saturday.

But, in a quick response, police dismissed the report stating that their men were there to avoid breakdown of law and order.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, Superintendent of Police, who was reacting to publication by some online platforms that the office of RSIEC was sealed by the Police, clarified that the Police officers seen at the RSIEC office were posted to the place on the directive of Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu.

Iringe-Koko said the policemen were there to protect the facility against any attack during the ongoing nationwide protest in Port Harcourt, advising people to always verify their facts before going to press.

She further emphasized that there is no iota of truth in the allegation peddled on some social media platforms that the Police assaulted and beat up some protesters.