Security operatives fire teargas at pro-Fubara protesters —but turn blind eye on Rivers demonstrators supporting emergency rule

 

Security operatives on Monday fired tear gas at women protesting against the emergency rule in Rivers State and the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara but allowed the protest led by an ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, former commissioner for social welfare, Ifeyinwa Aguma.

The protesters numbering about 200, condemned the appointment of a Sole Administrator in the state.

As the women marched and chanted solidarity songs in support of Fubara, they displayed placards with various inscriptions while security operatives, including the police, tried to stop them from advancing.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, ‘Ibas leave us alone,’’ Our democracy is threatened,’ and among others.

Following the refusal of the women to back down on the protest, operatives, including the police fired tear gas to dispatch the woman who ran helter-skelter.

A viral video that later surfaced showed some of the women crying after inhaling the substance from the teargas canister, insisting that they wanted Governor Fubara to return to power.

Some of the women sat on the ground and rained causes on the policeman, saying, “No Sim no Rivers State’

Also on Monday, a women’s coalition group marched on the streets of Port Harcourt, declaring support for the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Tinubu.

However, the security operatives allowed this set of women to protest without any form of harassment.

The women, who were dressed in white, marched from the Garrison flyover to the Isaac Boro Park. They carried placards with inscriptions such as “State of Emergency is Constitutional” and “We Don’t Want Fubara,” among others.

They were led by an ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, former commissioner for social welfare, Ifeyinwa Aguma, who threw her weight behind Ibok-Ette Ibas, urging him to continue his good work in the state.