SRM Alerts On Five Missing Members

As reactions continue to
trail last Sunday’s disruption of a political rally in Port Harcourt by men of the Rivers State Police command, the leadership of Save Rivers Movement (SRM), organisers of the rally says five of its members are still missing.
The committee chairman, Save Rivers Movement, Barrister Ahalu O. Charles who disclosed this at a press briefing in Port Harcourt last Monday, also alleged that one of its members, Hon. Ike Chinwo who was held by the police for two days also condemned the police statement that there was no official communication between the movement and the police prior to the rally.
The committee chairman who made copies  of the official communication between the movement and police available to the press described the police action as a deliberate attempt to stop the movement from legitimately pursuing its rights.
He also argued that the issue of a police permit has been settled by competent courts of jurisdiction, stressing that the movement does not need police permit to hold its rally.
According to him, a competent court of jurisdiction presided over by Hon. Justice Anwulli Chikwere had already declared sections  of the public order act which dealt with issue of police permit as inconsistent with the constitution, stressing that the Rivers State police command cannot claim not to be aware of the court ruling.
Barrister Charles said that what happened last Sunday was an indication that Rivers State is under siege.
Also speaking, a human rights lawyer, Barrister Ken Attsuette condemned the police action, stressing that the incident at Rumuola was an infringement on the right of the people to free movement.
Attsuette said that time has come for Nigerians to rise up against military autocracy, stressing that it is time for the state police commissioner, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu to go.
He also said that a contempt charge will soon be filed against the police commissioner and the entire Nigeria police on the issue.