Fresh Crisis in Rivers State Assembly As Police Shoots Teargas at State Lawmakers

Rivers State Police, today, disrupted a sitting of the Rivers state House of Assembly who were holding plenary for the first time since July when the House was sealed.

 Twenty-five of the 26 members of the House loyal to embattled Governor Rotimi Amaechi had converged on the Assembly earlier today to sit in compliance with a high court order barring the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the Assembly. 

Hardly had the law makers gained entry into the premises of the state Assembly that the police quickly Converged on the Scene and sealed off the complex. The lawmakers then decided to hold their sitting outside the complex.

 But the police suddenly began shooting teargas at the lawmakers who quickly took to their heels scampering for safety.

 It is not known yet whether anyone was injured in the incident.

 Rivers state Commissioner of Information, Ibim Semenitari confirmed the incident, saying “It is an indication of the impunity ravaging the country and a clear indication that the PDP under the present leadership has lost all forms of democratic conduct.

 They can’t even pretend to wear a mien of civility rather they are practising jackboot governance and repression worse than we have ever seen under the military.”

 Ms. Semenitari said she would issue a full statement on the incident later.

 The state police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, could not be reached for comments.