Rivers: Protesters’ use of dynamite, threat to democracy – G60 lawmakers

The G60 group, an opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives have condemned the use of dynamite explosives by protesters in Portharcourt, capital of Rivers State on Tuesday.

The group reacting to the protest, called on security agents to stop those behind the anarchy, saying that calls by the police for suspension of the planned protest over the local government tenure elongation crisis in Rivers, was not obeyed and they went ahead to stage violent protest.

Recall that the development resulted to the death of one person following the detonation of a dynamite explosive in front of Hotel Presidential, Aba Road, in the state.

In a statement which was signed by the G60 Spokesman, Rep Ikenga Ugochinyere, insisted that the use of explosives by protesters was an invitation to anarchy in Rivers.

The lawmakers called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Service, DSS to investigate the use of dynamite and unravel their financiers.

They also called on the police to allow council workers to resume work and channel energy to arresting bomb bearing protesters.

“We wish to condemn in strong terms the idea of protesters moving about with explosives and more importantly these are supporters of a serving minister. We have already heard that one or two persons died because of the device exploded, this is very worrisome.

“The security agencies should use the energy they are using in sealing up local government headquarters to actually find out how explosives were moved into Rivers State.

“These were how Boko Haram and all the security issues we are dealing with in Nigeria started and we shouldn’t allow this explosion in a political protest.

” The thing we need to find out, is was this explosion meant for Governor Fubara or Government House or Rivers people? Why explosives.

“These people are hell bent on bringing down the state, inflicting bloody harm on innocent citizens. And the police is more interested in sealing local government headquarters even when there’s no legal basis for that.

“President Bola Tinubu owes Nigerians a duty to direct the Inspector General of Police and DSS to find out who financed the use of explosives at a protest and find out whether there are other explosives that have been planted in different corners in Rivers State.

”If government doesn’t do this, we will hold government responsible if anything leads to breakdown of law and order in Rivers.

“Government should have arrested those local government chairmen who made an attempt to illegally seal the local government, including those calling for state of emergency, they may be working as a group.”