Mbiama axis of East West road, Ahoada West Local Government area of Rivers State was on Friday morning, February 17,2023 barricaded by physically challenged persons,beggars women and Youth who are protesting the scarcity of the new naira note and the hardship they are facing.
Some commuters who spoke to our reporter stated that different protesters blocked the road from the at Ebiama to the boundary between Rivers and Bayelsa while some hoodlums who hajicked the protest were seen attacking and robbing road users.
The protest crippled commercial activities in the area and caused heavy gridlock.
Also on Friday morning violent protest rocked Ikoku Junction and Ikwerre road axis of PortHarcourt as hoodlums took over the road to rob passersby and residents.
In an interview with our reporter an eyewitness who did not want his name in print said
“As Just few minutes ago at bout 9am,I was inside the house when my wife called me at Ikoku,I came out,I saw people running,scampering for safety.
“Boys were chasing people,I don’t know who they are.Buses were running,all the cars on the road,I saw burning fire at Ikoku roundabout near the new Flyover .
“Uptil no Police presence.The only people I saw that is trying to put off the fire is the security men attached to Anglican Church in Ikoku because of the burial of of Hon.Azuibike Nmerukini wife .
“Those boys were looting people,alot of people fell victim,they were robbing people collecting handsets.
“They are protesting because of this money issue.They were shouting u say Deygbam no dey here,You Say Deygbam no dey here”.
When our reporter visited the scene as at 9:30am Police has taken over the place and normalcy has returned.
Our reporter saw burnt tyres on Ikoku Junction/Ikwerre road and other areas of Ikwerre road Mile 3 to Mile 2 Diobu.
Our correspondent also reports that local vigilance group arrested two of the hoodlums.
Meanwhile one Miss Favour Harcourt who was robbed during the rampage,narrated her ordeal to our reporter.
“My name is Favour Harcourt during the protest a group of guys came to our driver when he was trying to reverse at Ikoku Junction,they swooped on him,broke his windscreen and started beating him up,on my way to come down of the vehicle one the guy held me and stabbed my hand,dragged my phone and my wallet and ran.
“As he was going the Diobu Vigilante caught him and recovered my phone,they arrested him”.
Also speaking the Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu attached to Diobu Vigilante said
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“My name is Comrade Godstime Ihunwo the Chief Security Officer of Nkpolu Oroworukwo Mile 3 Diobu attached to Diobu Vigilante at about 8:30am on Friday 17, February,2023 we received distress call concerning ongoing rampage by hoodlums at IKwerre,we swing into action and intercepted one Paul Saviour who claims to be a member of PLGA security watch who was has robbed one miss Favour Harcourt Ikoku junction at of her Android phone and wallet and recovered the item”.
As at press time we gathered that the suspect has been handed over to the Nkpolu Divisional Police headquaters at Mile 3 Diobu.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police command SP Grace Iringe Koko in her reaction said the situation both at IKwerre road, Mile 2 and Mile 3 Diobu as well as Mbiama has been put under control.