Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu, has raised alarm over the escalating tactics employed by "End Bad Government" protesters in Port Harcourt. What began as a peaceful demonstration has reportedly evolved into a more aggressive movement, with protesters allegedly pressuring local businesses to close shops and join their cause.
In a recent interview with Channels TV, CP Disu detailed the situation's deterioration. "The protesters are moving from one part of the state to another and they are blocking roads to force people to join them," he stated. "They have started threatening people not to open their shops in Port Harcourt. This has gone beyond peaceful protest."
The police chief expressed surprise at this turn of events, noting, "I'm very surprised that we got to this stage. It would have been a very beautiful one if we continued the protest as they started."
CP Disu highlighted initial efforts by law enforcement to maintain a positive relationship with protesters. "Our women police officers put in the feminine aspect of them into this job, they got close to the people and have been sharing water and biscuits to the protesters," he explained.
However, the situation has apparently grown beyond the organizers' control. "All of a sudden, the protest became too big for the organizers to handle. They could no longer control the crowd," CP Disu observed. This lack of control has led to internal conflicts, causing the group to splinter into factions with divergent agendas.
"Even here they had a fight among themselves and they broke into three parts and went their separate ways," the commissioner revealed, underscoring the movement's fractured nature.
Given the escalating tensions, CP Disu emphasized law enforcement's responsibility to maintain order and protect citizens. "Nobody will close his eyes to let them perpetrate crime in broad daylight. It is our job to protect lives and properties," he affirmed.
The police chief concluded with a stern warning: "We have made up our minds that we are going to do it, we are going to take decisive actions if they take laws into their hands.
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