Rivers Crisis: Police Fire Live Ammunition, Teargas At State Lawmakers

The political crisis rocking Rivers state took a new twist Thursday as the police fired live ammunitions and teargas at members of the Rivers state House of Assembly who were holding plenary for the first time since July when the House was sealed.

The Police had descended on the Assembly and sealed off the complex as twenty-five of the 26 members of the House loyal to embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi converged on the Assembly to sit for the first time after a high court order bared the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the Assembly.

Following the closure of the assembly complex by the police, the lawmakers decided to hold their sitting outside the complex, but the police suddenly began shooting teargas and live ammunition at the lawmakers who quickly took to their heels scampering for safety.

None of the lawmakers who participated in the sitting were available for comments, but the state Commissioner of Information, Ibim Semenitari confirmed the incident.

She said, “It is an indication of the impunity ravaging the country and a clear indication that the PDP under the present leadership has lost all forms of democratic conduct.

They can’t even pretend to wear a mien of civility rather they are practising jackboot governance and repression worse than we have ever seen under the military.”

Ms. Semenitari said she would issue a full statement on the incident later.

The state police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, could not be reached for comments at this time.

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