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Protesters in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, are marching towards the government house in the state capital, Port Harcourt, in defiance of the governor who banned all forms of protest.
Governor Nyesom Wike had said on Monday that there was no need for the #EndSARS protests after the demonstrations continued in other parts of the country despite authorities disbanding the Special Anti-Theft Squad (Sars), which was known for illegal arrests and murders.
“Law enforcement agencies are also aimed at ensuring that the ban is enforced and violators are put on the books,” said his spokesman Paulinus Nsirim in a statement posted on Twitter.
But despite the heavy police presence, the protesters still showed up at Pleasure Park, their agreed location on the outskirts of the city from where they began to march down a main road.
One of the protesters, Gospel Orji, told the BBC that they were heading to the government house to speak with the governor about his pronouncement.
“This is no longer a protest, it is a movement,” he said.
“We are going to show them that power belongs to the people,” he said.
Demonstrations are also ongoing in several other states across the country despite assurances Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari that the dissolution of Sars was the first step in reforming the police.
On the same day, a civilian and a policeman were killed in the commercial capital, Lagos, casting doubt on the sincerity of the authorities to end the police brutality.
The cities where demonstrations are now taking place are:
- Port Harcourt
- Aba
- Enugu
- Ibadan
- Lakes
- Yes
- Abuja
The protesters want the authorities to arrest and prosecute the police officers who have been involved in the deaths and harassment of citizens since the demonstrations began last week, as a sign of seriousness about police reforms.
