Rivers LG crisis: Rivers Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu warns

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured the people of the state that he and his men won’t allow the crisis enveloping the Local Government Areas (LGAs) to lead to a breakdown of law and order.

CP Disu told journalists at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt on Monday that the police are aware of the situation at the different LGAs and expect the different political players to respect the appeal and cease hostilities pending the hearing and determination of their case.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Olatunji Disu, declared his readiness to protect the lives and properties of the people of the state.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Disu warned individuals against taking the law into their hands. He stressed that anyone found doing so would face the full wrath of the law.

Vanguard reported that there was tension across some of the 23 local government areas in Rivers state as the tenure of the council chairmen expires today, June 17, by midnight.

‘Parents, hold your children’
Reacting to the situation, Disu, the police boss, enjoined parents to caution their children against getting involved in the crisis.

The Police boss vowed that they would protect all government property and human life in the community and ensure a safe and secure environment for all throughout the period.

Disu said: “My job as a police policeman is to protect lives and properties. And that is what we have gone out to do since morning.

And the Court of Appeal has given an order for everybody to exercise restraints till the 20th of this month — just three days.

“So we expect everybody to respect it and not take laws into their hands and allow peace to continue as it is.”

Disu promised that his officers were working around the clock to safeguard the property and lives of residents of the state.

He added that logistics and equipment for the job have been fully provided.

The CP said: “Sincerely, you know our officers have been out for the past three days. I just finished addressing them and I thank them for the good job they have done.

“They have been out since 4 a.m., and they just came back. We are not taking it lightly, we are ready to go. Our officers have been on a show of force and we have had additional men given to us from the Headquarters.

“This is just to assure members of the public that we are ready to do our jobs of protecting lives and properties.

“We have warned anybody who would want to take laws into their hands. I want to use this opportunity to talk to parents to call their children to order. Talk to them so that their children will not be used as cannon folds in this crisis.

“Everything that has to do with government property and every human being in this community would be protected,” the Rivers Police boss added.