Residents of Rivers have commended the police in the state for their neutrality and professionalism in the handling of the crisis in all the local governments.
The commendation was a result of the taking over of the 23 Local Council Secretariat on Tuesday night to prevent breakdown of law and order
The state has been thrown into crisis following the power tussle Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) assumed dangerous dimensions.
Two people, a police Inspector David Mgbada, and a vigilante member, Samuel Nwigwe were killed at Eberi-Omuma in Omuma LGA.
The state police boss, Olatunji Disu as part of the efforts to forestall breakdown of law and order in the state deployed policemen to all the Local Government Secretariat in the state.
An Ogoni community leader, Saviour Nebari said; “We are not going to be quiet and watch an ugly history repeat itself. We went through this route in 2013 and we saw how badly it affected the state. Politicians should learn to resolve their issues without recourse to violence.”
“They cannot continue to arm thugs and cultists to threaten the peace in the state and then turn around to blame the police for doing their job,” said an Ogoni community leader.
National Coordinator, Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Prince Wiro Junior, said he was very proud of the performance of the nonpolice led by CP Disu, adding that they have remained professional since the beginning of the crisis.
He said; “I must commend the police under CP Olatunji Disu for being very professional in handling the crisis in Rivers. I am from Emehua Local Government and resident of Rivers State. Do not forget that the primary responsibility of the police is to protect life and property.”
“They also have a duty to detect crime before it happens. If not for the proactiveness of the CP, there would have been so much bloodshed in Rivers State yesterday.”
He also continued “We also understand that some of the political gladiators have recruited cultists and all sorts of violent elements to unleash mayhem on their rivals but the CP and his men were able to rise to the occasion to prevent breakdown of law and order.”
“The police have been very apolitical and neutral in this issue. There is calm across Rivers State today because the police took over the 23 LGAs to ensure peace and stability.
“Some people are asking why the police would take over the LGAs but I support them because if they were not proactive and violence broke out with deaths recorded in high numbers, people would still condemn the police for not acting. So, I commend them. They have done very well and I urge them to keep doing so.
“I want to use this opportunity to plead with the political gladiators to conduct their activities within the confines of the law. They should stop recruiting cultists and violent elements to disrupt the peace and stability of the state.”
“If you are in Rivers between Tuesday and Wednesday, you don’t need anyone to tell you all manner of characters that have come out from various nooks and crannies who are being sponsored by the politicians.”
He also stated; “The politicians should allow peace to reign in the state for the good of all.”
Another resident, Prince Udemkwe, said the fact that the warring factions were accusing the police of taking sides was a pointer that the service had stayed neutral and refused to do their bidding.
He said; “It is very clear that each side wants the police to support them but they are not having their way. That is why both sides have been accusing the police of taking sides. For us, the ordinary residents in Rivers, we are glad that the police have stayed proactive.”
“If the police were not proactive in preventing some of the actions of these politicians, I won’t be able to go about my legitimate business and that will further make life difficult in this already hard economy.”
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