Police and Amaechi's Supporters Clash in Rivers

The Rivers Police Command on Sunday has denied shooting Sen, Magnus Abe in Rivers but angry youths and Governor Amaechi's supporter have continued to protest the shooting of member of the National Assembly.

The Nigerian police have disrupted a rally organised by Amaechi's and All Progressive Congress (APC) supporters in protest of the shooting of Senator Abe.

However, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the police did not dispense any bullet while dispersing a rally by Save Rivers Movement on Sunday.
 
 He said the Save Rivers Movement group was at the state College of Arts and Science for the rally when they were dispersed because they did not obtain a police permit.

``It is not true. The police did not shoot the senator, we only used minimal force to disperse the crowd at the venue of the rally,’’ he said.

Sen. Madnus Abe  representing representing  Rivers Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly  was billed to represent Amaechi at the rally slated for Rivers State College of Arts and Science, along Rumuola Road, Port Harcourt. But on getting to the venue, he was allegedly shot by the Officers of Nigerian police who came to disperse the rally.

Riot later broke out at Rumuigbo between the police and scores of youths who had gathered to hold the rally. The police fired teargas canister and live bullets sporadically in the air. Some persons were later arrested, among them a former member of the House of Representatives, Ike Chinwo.

 The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the disruption of the rally was yet  another senseless attack on innocent citizens in a continuous rape of democracy and an indication of the length that the PDP is willing to go to silence opposing views.