Heavy shooting as Rivers police storm pro-Amaechi rally- Are these Games necessary?

For the second time in eight days, men of the Rivers State Police Command stormed a rally by the Save Rivers Movement and allegedly opened fire on the members of the movement, who gathered in Bori, Khana Local Government of the state on Sunday. It was learnt that though the rally was billed to start by 2pm, fully armed policemen stormed the venue before the commencement of the programme, but it was unclear what led to the heavy shooting that followed the arrival of the security men. Our correspondent learnt that scores of people were injured but it could not be confirmed if anyone was killed as of the time of filing this report. Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Mr. George Feyii, deputy speaker of House of Assembly, Hon, Leyii Kwanee, and several other loyalists of Governor Rotimi Amaechi were among those who forced to their heels as a result of the rampaging attacks

On Sunday last week, policemen, who were deployed in the SRM rally, allegedly shot Senator Magnus Abe with rubber bullet on the chest at close range. The federal lawmaker is currently hospitalised in a London hospital for intensive medical attention Kwanee, who represents Khana Constituency 11 in the House, decried the refusal of men and officers of the Rivers State Police Command to move in to arrest the shooting by the armed youths. He said; 'At the Bori Police Station, which is just some few metres away from the Anglican Church, there was a heavy police presence, with about 20 police trucks and they were all gathered in their hundreds on the field, taking orders. 'In the face of this police presence, all these were happening and there was just no response from the police personnel to save the lives of the people. It is very sad and condemnable that this is happening; and it is just a signal of the dangers of 2015.' Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has described the sporadic shooting and disruption of the SRM rally in Bori, which it alleged claimed two lives, as a local resistance by the people of Ogoni to the coming of the APC. In a statement signed by the special adviser to the state chairman, Jerry Needam, the PDP said the violence was masterminded by the administration of Amaechi, the SRM, and the APC, to continue to create a state of insecurity to justify their call for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu