Rivers crisis: Police confirm arrest of 122 protesters

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 122 youths who allegedly invaded the official residence of the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, on Tuesday, Martins Amaewhule, during a protest in Port Harcourt.

The command said the protesters were led by the State Chairman of the National Youths Council of Nigeria, . Chijioke Ihunwo.

The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Nwonyi’s statement was signed by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police.
He stated that the youth, with the intent to commit felony, stormed the Speaker’s residence at the Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, and forcefully gained entrance by damaging the gate.

Nwonyi added that security has been beefed up at the state House of Assembly complex along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, the Speaker’s residence, and other strategic locations and infrastructure in the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The statement read, “The Rivers State Police Command, on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, around 11 30am arrested some ouths led by Chijioke Ihunwo, who, with intent to commit a felony, went to the official residence of Martins Amaewhule, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, located at Forces Avenue, Old GRA, Port Harcourt, where they forcefully gained entrance into the Speaker’s residence and maliciously damaged the gate of the house.

“While they were carrying out their nefarious activities at the scene, a distress call was received by the control room of the command, tactical teams were immediately deployed to the scene, where 122 suspects, including the said Chijioke Ihunwo were arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Port Harcourt, for a discrete investigation.”