Soldiers Didn’t Shoot Rivers Protesters, Army Insists

The 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt has debunked allegations that its troops shot at, and manhandled protesting youths and women in Rumuekpe community in the Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.

It would be recalled that the Executive Director of the Youths and Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, had in a statement issued in Port Harcourt alleged that two persons were rushed to the hospital while the whereabouts of a third person allegedly injured by the soldiers at the scene of the protest was unknown.

Also, some of the protesters alleged that in a bid to disperse them, the troops destroyed canopies they erected and seized their electronic equipment.

It was reported that for three weeks running, hundreds of some people in Rumuekpe, including women and elders in the community, had been protesting the alleged failure of multinational companies operating in their community to meet their demands.

But speaking to Saturday PUNCH on Thursday night, the acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major Jonah Danjuma Jonah, in a statement, said the situation in Rumuekpe was an attempt by some miscreants who disguised as protesters to take the laws into their hands.

He stated: “I’m sure you are aware of the situation at Rumuekpe, where there was an attempt by some miscreants who disguised as protesters to take the laws into their hands.

“I was there; these miscreants barricaded the road leading to the community and attempted to stop troops on routine patrol access to a flow station where they are providing security from carrying out their responsibilities.

“The allegation that troops shot at peaceful protesters is illogical, malicious and totally untrue. It is false and must be disregarded.”