Police deny apc’s allegations in Rivers
THE
Rivers State Police Command has denied claims that it declared to the
All Progressives Congress in Okrika Local Government Council that it
will not guarantee the security of the party’s candidates and supporters
during their governorship rally.
The APC in Okrika LGA had alleged that
the police, rather than agree to provide security for the APC
governorship campaign in the area, had suggested that the event be
postponed indefinitely since it (police command) would not be able to
guarantee security.
Leader of the Dakuku Peterside Campaign
Organisation in Okrika, Mr. Tamuno William, also accused the police of
refusing to investigate attacks on APC secretariat and members in the
area.
But the command on Thursday expressed
surprise over the allegations against it. The police maintained that at
no time did the command say that it would not be able to guarantee the
security of lives and property.
A statement signed by the command’s
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, assured that the
perpetrators of the attacks on the party secretariat and members would
soon be brought to book.
The command insisted that an
investigation into the matter was ongoing and added that it would not
fold its arms and allow such case of attacks on the facilities of a
political party to go into oblivion.
It said, “The Rivers State Police
Command wishes to react to statements credited to one Chief Tamuno
William, a stalwart of the APC in Okrika Local Government alleging that
the command refused to investigate attacks on their party offices in
Okrika and also failing to provide them with security for their planned
rally in Okrika town.
“To put the records straight, the
command will not fold its arms and allow the attacks on APC facilities
in Okrika or any other political party’s facility to go uninvestigated.
Investigations on the cases are still in progress.”
Expressing surprise that the APC in
Okrika could accuse it of refusing to provide security for its members,
the command recalled that it met with political stakeholders in Okrika
and wondered why the allegation was coming immediately after the
meeting.
The command, however, reiterated its
resolve to remain apolitical and provide adequate security for all
political parties in the state, adding that those bent on attacking
facilities and members of political parties should be ready to face the
full wrath of the law.
