Rivers, the oil rich state in the Niger Delta has been described as a police state by Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and representative Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency.
Reacting to Saturday, September 28 police attack in Bonny island on members of RIVLEAF, an association of Rivers Young Professionals& ex student Leaders. Peterside decried the action, describing it as imprudent and another act of impunity.
"In every democracy, individual freedom and liberty is respected because power ultimately comes from the people. These strange occurances in Rivers State is condemnable because it is antithetical to those fine principles of democracy which are held high all over the world. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Therefore, it is time Nigerians condemned in unison this brigandage and rape on peoples rights and liberties".
RIVLEAF, it was gathered had converged on Bonny for their inauguration when suddenly over 100 men from the Rivers State Police Command swooped on them. First at industrial training unit hall and later at the Government Lodge in Local Government premises where the group had reconvened. Eventually, the group moved to a private house but the police still appeared and disrupted the ceremony.
Peterside wondered why the Rivers State Police Command under the leadership of Mbu Joseph Mbu continues to unleash mayhem on the same people it is supposed to protect.
"For how long will our people live under fear of police attack and brutality? Those at the root of this kind of terrorism must be reminded that Nigerians are watching and at the appropraite time they will pass their verdict. We may seem helpless today because we have no guns but we are hopeful that the God of justice whom we serve will not dessert us", he said.
The lawmaker therefore called on Nigerians to stand up and defend democracy & freedom before Rivers State is thrown into avoidable anarchy.
Dumsor: Don't rush to demand timetable; the problem may be temporary — Atik Moha...
Space X Starlink’s satellite broadband approved in Ghana — NCA
2024 election will be decided on the grounds of the economy; choice of running m...
Dumsor: We're demanding less; just give us a timetable — Kwesi Pratt to ECG
Do I have to apologise for doing my security work, I won’t – Simon Osei-Mensah r...
All my businesses have collapsed under Akufo-Addo — NDC Central regional chair
Military, Prison Officers clash in Bawku, three injured
GRA-SML contract: MFWA files RTI request demanding KPMG report
Court threatens to call second accused to testify if NDC's Ofosu Ampofo fails to...
Family accuses hospital of medical negligence, extortion in death of 17-year-old...
