Police warn against planned protest by NULGE in Rivers

The Rivers State Police Command has warned against the planned protest by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) scheduled for Monday, citing credible intelligence of potential infiltration by hoodlums.

Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, in a statement released on Sunday night, urged the organisers to suspend the protest to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Iringe-Koko said the police will take all necessary lawful measures to protect the lives and properties of every resident in Rivers State.

She added that the command has vowed to apprehend and prosecute any person or group that attempts to disrupt the peace.

“The Rivers State Police Command has become aware of the planned protest by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), scheduled for June 24, 2024. While the Command recognizes and respects the right to lawful assembly, it has credible intelligence that this protest will be infiltrated and hijacked by hoodlums seeking to cause disruption and mayhem within the State,” Iringe-Koko said

Iringe-Koko also disclosed that the police have deployed officers to all 23 Local Government Areas to ensure the safety and security of the public, stating, “These officers will remain in their respective locations until the threat of disruption of peace is deemed to have ceased.”

The Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, reassured residents that comprehensive security measures have been implemented to safeguard lives and property and ensure unhindered traffic flow, fostering a peaceful environment for all lawful activities.

Disu urged law-abiding residents to go about their daily routines without fear, as robust measures have been strategically deployed to guarantee their safety and well-being.