The Rivers Police Command has denied
allegations that its personnel shot and
wounded Sen. Magnus Abe while trying to
stop a political rally from holding in Port
Harcourt today.
Its spokesman, Ahmad Muhammad, told the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port
Harcourt that the police did not dispense
any bullet while dispersing a rally by Save
Rivers Movement on Sunday.
He said the group was at the state
College of Arts and Science for the rally
when they were dispersed because they
did not obtain a police permit.
"I can confirm to you that Sen.
Magnus Abe was not shot. The police
did not expend any single bullet while
dispersing the crowd. It is not true.
The police didn't shoot the senator,
we only used minimum force to
disperse the crowd at the venue of
the rally,’’ he said.
Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the Commissioner for
information and Communications, made the
accusation in a statement on Sunday in
Port Harcourt.
“Today’s attack on members of the
Save Rivers Movement, a non
governmental association, at the
College of Arts and Science, Rumuola,
Port Harcourt, Rivers State and
especially the unprovoked shooting of
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the senator
representing Rivers South East
senatorial district, is cause for worry
and an indication of the length that
the PDP is willing to go to silence
opposing views.
"Rivers State Government therefore
reiterates its call for the re-
deployment of CP Mbu from Rivers
State before he turns the state into
a graveyard because of his intolerance
and unprofessional behaviour,’’ she
said.
"We appeal to our people to remain
law abiding and not to take the laws
into their own hands as we promise to
continue to use all legitimate and
legal means to guarantee the safety
of our people and their rights to exist
in Nigeria,’’ she said.
The Press Secretary to Sen. Abe, Mr
Honour Sirawoo, said a rubber bullet hit
Abe on the chest and was taken to
hospital for treatment.
He said Abe had gone to supervise the
preparations for the rally when the
incident occurred at about 9.00 am on
Sunday.
Dr Mckay Anyanwu, Medical Director of
Krisany Hospital, where Abe was rushed to
for treatment, told newsmen that the
senator was brought to the hospital in a
state of shock caused by low blood
pressure.
“He was unable to talk or eat, and he
was feeling restless as a result of
traumatic shock. The implication is that
there is haemorrhage; this is a blood
trauma, it is not a sharp one,’’ he said.
(NAN)
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