A Legal Practitioner, Idaye Opi, who was in Port Harcourt when the Police raid of the ‘Save Rivers Movement’ rally occurred on Sunday, January 12, has thrown more light on the role of the Police in the issue.
Contributing to Channels Television breakfast programme, ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Tuesday, via telephone, Opi clarified that by his observation of the overwhelming view in the city, the Police used only tear gas to disperse the crowd, as there was no bullet.
He also said that the Police, asides saying that the organisers had no permit, also claimed that they got reports that some people were planning to invade and cause mayhem at the rally.
The Police stated that the way and manner the organisers went about their activities, it may have degenerate into skirmish, but Opi also noted that the Police did not act right.
He said: “We are not in the State of Emergency in Rivers State.”
He reiterated his position in the state as “not being an Amaechi apologist. “In this instance, I believe that the Police was very wrong, as nobody needs a police permit for a public gathering.”
He argued that labour unions, political parties, churches and other organizations could organise rallies without such demands being made of them.
Opi added that if indeed the Police had fears that the event was going to degenerate into a breakdown of law and order, they should have gone to watch over them in order to step in when they sense trouble approaching.
