EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Protesters, police clash averted in Rivers

A clash between protesting youths and men of the counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria Police Force was averted on Friday — the second day of the nationwide hunger protest.

Trouble started when men of the counter-terrorism unit were on a show of force along the popular Aba Road and ran into the protesters at the Pleasure Park, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The operatives, in several patrol trucks, then asked the youths to leave the road to pave the way for them, but the protesters chorused ‘No! No! How many people police go kill?”

The armed operatives insisted that they vacate the road with some alighting from their trucks as tension built up in what could be described as a near-clash situation.

But sensing danger, the protest leaders asked the youths to clear the road and calmness was restored.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, who got wind of the near clash, raced to the scene afterwards where he addressed the protesters and appealed to them not to block the roads.

Disu stated, “I must commend you for being peaceful and conducting yourselves well since yesterday when this protest began. It is your right to protest, but please don’t do anything that will disrupt public peace and don’t infringe on the rights of other citizens.

“I have an appeal. Please don’t block the roads. Don’t block the road. If you do so, you will be infringing on the rights of others who are using the roads.

“I will leave the Deputy Commissioner of Police with you and I assure you that nobody and no officer will intimidate nor harass you as long as you continue to conduct yourselves in a peaceful and orderly manner.”

In response, one of the protesters stressed that they had been peaceful since Thursday and assured the CP that they would remain so.

He stated, “Sir, I hope the DC is peaceful. Since yesterday, we have been protesting peacefully and we went to the Government House where the Governor addressed us.

“But please, tell your men not to intimidate us. We are on a peaceful protest against bad government in Nigeria. We want the return of the fuel subsidy. We call on the President to also subsidise electricity.

“There is so much hunger, poverty and suffering. The cost of living is too much. President Bola Tinubu must do something or resign from office. We are tired. “