Police Deny Firing Tear Gas At Rivers Government House

The Rivers Police Command said on Wednesday that its personnel did not fire tear gas at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Angela Agabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt that policemen deployed to disperse protesting youths did not shoot tear gas at the government house.“No, it’s not true. Police personnel deployed to stop protesting youths did not fire tear gas into the Government House.“Tear gas was used to disperse youths who attempted to enter the state House of Assembly and others who also took over some streets.“Our personnel did not fire tear gas at the government house,’’ she said.

Ms. Agabe said normalcy had been restored to the state legislature while the protesting youths had been successfully dispersed.“There is calm and things are quiet everywhere, and the police is on top of the situation,’’ she assured.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Ibim Semenitari, had alleged that anti- riot mobile policemen fired tear gas at the government house early Wednesday.Ms. Semenitari added that the tear gas was also fired at supporters of the state government.

The Rivers House of Assembly had been enmeshed in violence on Tuesday as five lawmakers, believed to have the support of the presidency, tried to impeach the speaker of the assembly, who has the backing of 27 lawmakers and the state governor.(NAN)