Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State Monday staged a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt in support of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The party also stated its support for the reform of the unit as ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Ibrahim Idris.
But in a swift reaction, the Rivers State Government through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Emma Okah, said the pro-SARS protesters by the opposition party has proven that the tactical unit of the Nigeria Police has become the armed wing of the APC.
The protesters, led by the state Chairman of the APC, Dr. Davies Ikanya, marched through the major streets of Port Harcourt, carrying placards and banners declaring their support for the continued existence of SARS operatives in the state, before arriving the police headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, where they presented a letter to the state police Commissioner Zaki Ahmed.
Some of the inscriptions on the placard read, “SARS is fighting the enemies to save Rivers people”, “To end SARS is to increase beheading”, “Without SARS, criminals will cripple Rivers State”, and “Support SARS Commander for a better Rivers State,” amongst others.
Speaking while presenting their letter of support to the Commissioner of Police, the Chairman of APC in the state, Dr. Davies Ikanya, said the party was concerned about calls by Governor Nyesom Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the scrapping of SARS.
Details later…
