The Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt has debunked claims that its personnel shot at protesting youths and women in Rumuekpe community in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday.
This was shortly after the Executive Director of the Youths and Advocacy Centre, Fyneface Dumnamene, accused the military of shooting at protesters and manhandling them.
However, Acting Deputy Director, Public Relations, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major Jonah Danjuma Jonah, in a statement, said the situation in Rumuekpe was an attempt by some miscreants who disguised as protesters to take the laws into their hands.
“I’m sure you are aware of the situation at Rumuekpe, where there was an attempt by some miscreants who disguised as protesters to take the laws into their hands.
“I was there; these miscreants barricaded the road leading to the community and attempted to stop troops on routine patrol access to a flow station where they are providing security from carrying out their responsibilities,” he said.
The protesters were protesting the alleged failure of multinational companies operating in the community to meet their demands.
