By Our Reporter
The police in Imo State have justified their attack on indigenes of the state who staged a peaceful rally in Owerri on Monday to protest against the government of Governor Rochas Okorocha which they said is hellish and anti-democratic.
The spokesperson of the Imo State Police Command, Andrew Enwerem, told reporters that the protesters did not have the permission to protest.
Enwerem said: “The duty of the police is to ensure security of lives and property. If they found themselves in friction with the police that is not out of place. Teargas is meant for human beings and not for animals. Before you protest you must get permission to march otherwise that will amount to unlawful assembly.”
The peaceful rally was called by Imo People’s Action for Democracy (IPAD) against the policies of Okorocha’s administration.
The protest, tagged ‘Occupy Owerri’ is expected to last for a week, but sources told TheNiche that the governor was afraid that such a protest could dent his political image forever.
He was said to have implored the police led by Chris Ezike to stop the rally using any means possible.
One of the organisers, the Igbo National Council (INC), issued a statement signed by Chilos Godsent to explain their frustration.
The statement said: “The Igbo National Council (INC) wishes to express her displeasure and disappointment on the naked, brutal and reckless use of force to disperse the Imo Peoples Action for Democracy (IPAD) organized “Occupy Imo Peaceful Rally” by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) at the order of the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, in conspiracy with Governor Anayo Rochas Okorocha on Monday, December 18, 2017, in Owerri Imo State.
“At the early hours of Monday, December 18, 2017, over 100 anti-government protesters gathered at the Wethdral Road roundabout by Emmanuel College Owerri being the starting point of the Occupy Imo Peaceful Rally.
“Within 30 minutes of the peaceful rally, Nigerian Police numbering over 100 which had besieged the location since 5am moved against the protesters and ordered that the protest should stop. When we asked to know why, one of the policemen on plain dress told us that the Imo State Commissioner of Police had instructed them to stop the rally on the ground that no Police Permission was granted for the Rally.
“While the organizers of the rally were discussing with some policemen, a team of dreaded looking policemen moved against the protesters and forcefully dispossessed us of our banners, placards, Anayo Rochas Okorocha statue and other protest materials and also physically assaulted some leading members of the protest which include but not limited to, Hon Uche Onyeaguocha – former member of the Federal House of Representatives and leading civil Rights activist in Nigeria, Chilos Godsent – President of Igbo National Council (INC), Barrister Che Oyinatunmba, Spokesperson of the Imo Mass Movement (IMM), Aku Obidinma, President of Imo Billie Initiative and Coordinator of IPAD, Anthony Osuoha, CEO of CRUX, Mrs. Marjorie Ezihe-Osuoha, Secretary of IPAD and many other activists.
INC noted that this morning, the Governor of Imo State and the Imo State Commissioner of Polioce had launched “Operation Show of Force” which saw over 100 heavily armed military men, over 200 heavily armed policemen, DSS, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps etc, patrolling major strets of Owerri.
“Consequent upon the above, the Igbo National Council (INC), rose from an emergency meeting this afternoon and resolved as follows:
“That INC has passed a Vote of No Confidence in Governor Anayo Rochas Okorocha and CP Chris Ezike – the Imo State Commissioner of Police.
“That INC will launch Operation Rochas Must Go from January 2018.
“That the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should immediately demote and redeploy CP Chris Ezike before he causes avoidable anarchy in Imo State.”