Why we deployed armed officers to Rivers Assembly Quarters – Nigeria Police

The Rivers Police Command has explained its deployment of approximately thirty armed police officers and armoured personnel carriers to the Port Harcourt residences of state House of Assembly members.

The deployment has increased political tension in the state amid a standoff between some lawmakers and the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The factional Speaker of the Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, had alleged that the governor was preparing to destroy the residences but Fubara rejected the accusation.

During his visit to the residential quarters on Wednesday, the governor informed the media that he was there to conduct an on-the-spot evaluation of the condition of the dwellings in preparation for potential renovation.

Tony Okocha, the state All Progressive Congress’s Caretaker Committee Chairman recently pushed for the legislature to start the impeachment process against the governor.

However, the Police Command stated that maintaining peace, not political gain led to the deployment of officers to the assembly quarters.

In a statement released on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that the recent political developments brought about the deployment.