Hardship: FCT Police to deploy 4,200 officers, vow to resist violent protest

By Doris Isreal Ijeoma The FCT Police Command announced on Friday that in anticipation of a planned nationwide protest by human rights activists and Nigerian youths against hunger and hardship, it has proactively deployed both material and human resources across the nation’s capital. “The proactive deployment aims to ensure public safety, protect protesters, and prevent protests from being hijacked by non-state actors. “It includes visibility policing and the deployment of explosive ordnance device (EOD) experts and personnel at various strategic locations. “Additionally, operatives will conduct raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings, and shanties. They will also engage in stop-and-search operations, vehicular and foot patrols, and maintain synergy with sister security agencies. The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, while acknowledging the residents’ right to protest, advises that protests should remain peaceful. In a statement by SP Josephine Adeh, the spokesperson said, “The CP vows to resist all forms of violent protest and lawlessness, as the police will not be stampeded into allowing the destruction of public and private properties or loss of lives.” Residents are also urged to be vigilant and report suspicious activities via the following Police emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352 CRU: 08107314192

Wike loyalists storm council secretariat, vow to resist Fubara’s caretaker team

There is ongoing tension in Port Harcourt City Local Government Council (PHALGA) in Rivers State as youths, loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, gathered around the council premises amidst a crisis over local government administration. Police presence was heightened around PHALGA and other local council areas across the state to maintain order following reports of unrest. Speaking to Channels Television, Maxwell Enwukwe, a former Council Executive and current coordinator of grassroots development initiatives in PHALGA, emphasized their commitment to ensuring peace and order. “These are youths from Port Harcourt Local Government Council. We have come to ensure peace and order in our local government council because yesterday, we received information that some individuals gathered hoodlums to besiege the council even during a public holiday,” Enwukwe stated. He further explained, “Today, we have come to see why that happened, but fortunately, the police have taken over the local government council premises, and everyone is here peacefully. These are supporters of grassroots development initiatives loyal to the Minister of FCT.” Despite the police presence, the crowd remained stationed at the PHALGA environment, which is near the Rivers State Government House, indicating heightened tensions over the leadership dispute. The crisis was triggered by the expiration of the tenure of local government chairmen in Rivers State on Tuesday, with conflicting claims over tenure extension by the State House of Assembly. Governor Siminalayi Fubara has, however, maintained that there was no official extension of tenure and has proceeded to nominate caretaker committees for the 23 local government councils in the state.