The Rivers State Police Command has explained the incident involving an attack on the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, during a protest at the State House of Assembly complex in Port Harcourt on Monday.
According to the police, the attack was not intentional, and their actions were aimed at dispersing protesters and ensuring the governor's safety from potential arsonists causing mayhem.
In a statement released by the state's police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, on Wednesday, the police clarified the sequence of events. The statement read, "Following credible intelligence indicating the intention of an armed group to cause disturbance in Port Harcourt, particularly at the State House of Assembly on Monday, October 30, and considering the recent incident of arson at the State House of Assembly under investigation, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations deployed armed police officers under his supervision to intercept the 'hoodlums' and protect lives and property within the State House of Assembly and its surroundings."
Upon arriving at the complex's entrance, the police noticed a large group of youths protesting, attempting to gain access to the complex, potentially causing a breach of peace. In response, the police deployed non-lethal crowd control measures, including tear gas and water cannons, to disperse the unruly and uncontrollable protesters.
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However, a short while later, another group of aggressive individuals approached the complex's entrance, and the police responded similarly. During this encounter, the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, was observed to be present among the crowd. The police expressed their surprise and shock at the governor's unexpected presence, as there had yet to be prior communication with the police about the governor's visit to the incident scene. Typically, security protocols call for the police to accompany the governor and ensure his safety, especially in light of the security threat intelligence.
In light of the situation, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Operations took immediate security measures to ensure the governor's protection and safety. At the same time, he and his entourage assessed the extent of the damage caused by the fire incident. The police emphasised that they did not deliberately target or attempt to harm the governor or anyone else, let alone the Chief Executive and security officer of the state, as some reports suggested.
The statement concluded that the Rivers State Police Command had implemented sufficient security measures to de-escalate the situation and restore complete calm in the affected areas. The police's explanation aimed to clarify the circumstances of the incident and underscore their primary responsibility of safeguarding the governor's and public's safety and security.
