The Rivers State Police Command has announced the arrest of three individuals for stealing point-of-sale machines and vehicle wipers under the guise of protesting against hunger and bad governance.

State Commissioner for Police, Olatunji Disu, revealed this while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Disu, who conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the protest in various parts of the state, expressed dismay that the demonstration had been overtaken by miscreants.

He further stated that the organisers of the original protest had lost control, and the police could not stand idly by while hoodlums ran rampant.

Disu said, “I assure you, I will investigate what has occurred. However, I am aware that hoodlums have hijacked this protest.

“They have many individuals with them harassing members of the public. About an hour ago, we arrested three people who were stealing POS machines among the protesters.

“We also have thugs stealing wipers from vehicles and attempting to set tyres alight. The police have been responding promptly to extinguish these fires.

“These individuals are not genuine protesters; they are thugs who might have joined the protest or infiltrated it. I promise to investigate further and provide feedback on what I find.”

He noted that the protest had deviated from its original intent, with splinter groups moving around the city with ulterior motives.

“The situation has changed. The protest has evolved from its original purpose. Groups are now moving around the town, blocking roads, coercing people to join them, and even threatening to shut down businesses.

“This has moved beyond a peaceful protest. I am very surprised by the escalation. You may have noticed the presence of many female police officers.

“A lot of my Divisional Police Officers are women, and they have been using their empathetic approach in their duties. They have built positive relationships with the protesters, offering water and biscuits. However, the protest has grown too large for the organisers to manage.

“Yesterday, there was a confrontation among the protesters, which led to them splitting into three groups. They have since roamed the town, harassing traders and threatening those who do not comply with their demands.” (The PUNCH)

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