Briggs: Rivers People May Be Forced to Defend Themselves if Police Fail to Act
Ann-Kio Briggs, a well-known environmental and human rights activist from Rivers State, has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for its recent actions in the state, describing them as both “unacceptable” and “dangerous.” Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Briggs raised concerns over the police’s handling of security following the election of 23 local government chairmen.
Briggs particularly condemned the police for selectively enforcing court orders and criticized the decision to withdraw officers from local council secretariats. This move, she argued, came despite warnings from Governor Siminalayi Fubara that some political actors, disgruntled with the election results, were plotting to incite violence.
“We have been voicing our concerns since last October, when this political unrest started,” she said. “It’s clear which local governments are in turmoil – they’re the ones whose leaders refuse to accept that their tenure ended three months ago and have been hostile toward the governor.”
She further pointed out that for months, the offices of the 23 local government chairmen were locked by the police after their terms had expired. However, on the day the newly elected chairmen were set to take over, the police withdrew, leaving them vulnerable to potential violence.
Briggs also criticized President Bola Tinubu for not intervening earlier, despite repeated calls from the people of Rivers State. “Now that the situation has escalated and local governments are in chaos, the president is calling on the governor to restore order, but this is something the police should have been doing from the start,” she said.
Concluding her remarks, Briggs emphasized that the police’s failure to act could leave the people of Rivers State with no choice but to defend themselves. She described the situation as both dangerous and unacceptable.
Post Comment