Security in Rivers Government House tight – CP

The Rivers State Police Command said on Tuesday that it had provided adequate security during the protest by some ex-militants in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, said this while briefing newsmen on the protest by the ex-militants.
Mbu said that the command had beefed up security around the Government House and other government offices during the protest by the ex-militants.
He said that the police did not give any cover to the ex-militants as insinuated in some quarters.
Mbu said that he had informed Governor Rotimi Amaechi through a text message on the security measures taken by the command to forestall a breakdown of law and order during the protest.
He said: “I respect my governor.
“He is my boss.
“I do not want to join issues with him.
“I got a hint by 5.30 in the morning of that day that it appears to be a peaceful protest.
“We did not know exactly from which direction.
“In the morning, I was the one who deployed counter terrorism unit, those wearing red berets.
“I deployed them personally around the Government House.
“I deployed our Armoured Personnel Carriers to Government House and we were able to send them out.
“And I sent a text message to his Excellency.
“I said Your Excellency sir, we have dispersed the men.
“And he replied my text message and said thank you very much.
“I sent back a text message to him: Your Excellency, thank you sir.
“I want to add that I have explained things to the IG (Inspector-General of Police) and IG has directed that I should ban further public peaceful protests or processions and anybody who wants to do that should apply.
“And, he never replied me.”
The police commissioner, however, said the command was aware of the plan by some government officials to woo some groups and unions to join the two-day warning strike by the organised labour in the state.
The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress had staged a two-day warning strike, which ended on May 28.
The strike was in protest over the continued closure of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area secretariat by the police.
Mbu, however, said that the police were providing protective custody at the council secretariat.
He alleged that the organised labour had forced people to join the strike by placing barricades in offices and warned that such practice was not proper.