By Ola Kay
The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended three persons in connection with alleged theft of Point of Sale (POS) machines and windshield wipers from vehicles during the ongoing protests against economic hardship in the country.
This was as the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, embarked on an assessment of the protests in various parts of Port Harcourt, the state capital on Wednesday, August 7.
CP Disu decried a situation where the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums, putting a question mark on the motive of the demonstrators.
The CP expressed concern over the turn of events, saying, “I give you my word, I am going to find out what really happened here. But, I am aware that hoodlums have hijacked this protest from them.
“They have a lot of people moving around with them harassing members of the public. About one hour ago, we just arrested three people who went around stealing POS among the protesters.”
The state police boss emphasized that what was meant to be a peaceful protest initially had degenerated into high level of lawlessness, whereby protesters now resorted blocking of the roads and forcing innocent residents to join them.
He said: “They have started going from one part of the state, part of the town to another, blocking roads, trying to force people to join them and even they have started threatening people not to open their offices and their shops.”
The police boss equally informed that his men and officers has been working tirelessly to restore order, as well as quell the fires set up by protesters who attempted to burn tyres in order to bring a sense of panic and destruction. “These are not protesters, thugs are among them,” he stated.
But Disu assured members of the public that the police would take decisive action to protect lives and property in the state saying that it is the duty of the police to do so, while assuming of necessary action in the case of escalated violence. “
He acknowledged the working synergy among other security agencies in the state to enthrone peace.
“Very well, you can see everywhere you go, you see members of the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Navy, the Secret Service are around too, members of the Civil Defence you see them everywhere,” Disu stated, while stressing the readiness of the security operatives to continue to maintain order in the state.
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