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#EndBadGovernance: Thugs Harass Journalist, Beat Up Protesters In Rivers

Wednesday makes it Day 7 of the nationwide protest which later turned violent in some Northern states of the federation. 


Protest
Protesters in Abuja on Friday, August 2, 2024. Credit: Channels TV’s Sodiq Adelakun

 

A journalist was harassed by thugs while attempting to cover the #EndBadGovernance protest in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Wednesday. 

Our correspondent said a group of thugs positioned themselves directly opposite the Federal Secretariat in Port Harcourt, intimidating and chasing away both journalists and protesters.

Witnesses report say before our correspondent arrived, two protesters had already been beaten while police officers stood by and did nothing.

A journalist was also surrounded and threatened by the thugs who stated that they were there to ensure no protest would take place today.

The Federal Secretariat on the Port Harcourt /Aba express road has been a gathering point for the protesters for the past seven days of the hunger and end bad governance protest.

The inaction of over 20 police officers, who witnessed these events but did nothing calls to question the security and the protection of the right to protest in Rivers State.

When contacted, the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu expressed concern over the incident, promising a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.

It would be recalled that Rivers State  Commissioner of Police who has visited the protest sites severally in the past days, has ensured that his men remained professional, as well as ensured peace and orderliness among the protesters since the commencement of the protest.

Disu at some point had offered light refreshments to the peaceful protesters in Port Harcourt, as his way of thanking them for remaining peaceful and law-abiding.

Wednesday makes it Day 7 of the nationwide protest which later turned violent in some Northern states of the federation.