The Rivers State government has sent out a strong warning to persons planning to protest through the streets of the state in order to disrupt the planned resumption of collation of election results.
The government said there is a subsisting order banning protests in the state and that such order is still in force, warning that offenders would face full wrath of the law. Below is the full statement:
“The Rivers State Government is aware of a report circulating in the social media and credited to one Mr Anabs Sara-Igbe inviting innocent people to converge in Port Harcourt tomorrow Tuesday 2nd April, 2019 for the purpose of carrying out demonstrations (violent or otherwise) aimed at causing chaos and disrupting further collation of pending 2019 general election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State. This is a violation of the temporary ban on public protests in the state.
“Rivers State Government owes a duty to protect lives and property of the people and residents of the state and will not compromise that responsibility.
“Consequently, the government dares Mr Anabs Sara-Igbe (to present himself in person or by proxy) to disobey the Government ban against public protest now in place.
‘Accordingly, parents are hereby advised to caution their children and wards against being used to cause violence in the State as anybody caught in violation will face arrest and prosecution.
“You have been warned.”
Emma Okah
Hon. Commissioner for Information and Communications