Community Protests Leaders’ Harrasment

Youths and Leaders of
Rumuokwurusi community in Obio /Akpor local government area of Rivers State, has accused the police of assaulting its leaders and meddling into its internal community affairs, with a motive of instigating crisis in the community.
Youths, women and other stakeholders in the community expressed their discontent on the matter through a mass protest in the community, recently.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like, “police stop harassing our leaders, Rumuokwurusi need peace, RSG save our traditional rulers, companies avoid dealing with illegal town council.”
Addressing the press during the protest, the Chairman, Rumuokwurusi Traditional Rulers Council, Ojiowhor Ambrose Ihunwo, accused the police  of conniving with some elements in the community to stop the newly appointed chairman of the Rumuokwurusi Town Council, Chief Gabriel Okpoko from assuming power.
He said the police action contravenes a valid court judgement from the High Court of Rivers State, presided over by S.C.  Amadi, which ruled that the RumuOkwurusi Traditional Rulers Council (OJiowhors) have the exclusive power to constitute the RumuOkwurusi Town Council.
The traditional ruler also decried physical assault on him and other traditional rulers in the community by the police and called on the Rivers State government and civil society groups to wade into the matter and avert crisis in the community.   Also speaking to newsmen, the newly appointed chairman of the Rumuokwurusi Town Council, Chief Gabriel Okpoko, said he was personally assaulted and wounded by some thugs, on his way to honour an invitation by the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) of Elimgbu Police Station. He accused the police of complicity in the matter, as they allegedly paid deaf attention to his complaints. He also urged the police to allow peace to reign in Rumuokwurushi companies and stop meddling into the community’s affairs.
Effort to get the reaction of the DPO Elimgbu Police Station, was abortive as he declined to comment on the matter.

Taneh Beemene