Day 7: Outrage As Thugs Attack Protesters, Journalists In Port Harcourt

-Protesters Vow To Continue With Protest

Thugs suspected to be carrying out the orders of a top politician have attacked peaceful protesters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, disrupting a week-long protest that has been peaceful and well-organized against hunger, hardship and bad governance.

The thugs, who launched what a protester called “a flash attack” at the entrance of the Federal Secretariat along Aba Road, which has been a meeting point of the protesters, beat up unarmed protesters, forcefully took their phones and ran away.

While the thugs were busy unleashing mayhem on the protesters, another set of thugs were busy attacking journalists and citizens who brought out their phones to capture the ugly scenario.

The protesters claimed that about 12 policemen, who were present during the attack did not intervene or made any attempt to arrest the thugs.

They claimed that the thugs, who had positioned themselves opposite the Federal Secretariat, started by issuing threats, telling protesters of the fate that would befall them if they went ahead to protest.

One of the victims of the attack was captured on a video that has gone viral writhing in pain, lamenting about the loss of his phone and how he no longer hears with his left ear.

Reacting to the development, Rivers State Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu expressed concern and vowed to ensure that an investigation takes place.

“We will ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences,” he stated.

But some of the protesters have vowed to continue with the protest, encouraging others on social media not to give up because the country needs their effort to be free from bad governance.

In fact some of the protesters claimed that a powerful politician was the mastermind of the attack, claiming that people working for him recruited thugs and miscreants from his local government area to disrupt the protest for his selfish interest.

On X formerly Twitter, there has been a raging war with protesters and those in support of the protest but are unable to join for one reason or a few others that are against the protest and in support of the attack launched by the hoodlums.

But generally, across the city of Port Harcourt, the attack has been met by outrage, especially one people knew that the police were around when the incident occured and they failed to take action.

“The Rivers State Police command is not on the side of the people. They have clearly demonstrated that,” says a mother of two, who closed her shop at Oil Mill Market in order to join the protesters on Wednesday.

“If the thugs like, let them take over the whole of Port Harcourt, we will still protest. Rivers is not owned by anybody, likewise Nigeria. It is our city and our country,” she adds.