Rivers Protests: Police Teargas Pro-Fubara Women, Escort Pro-Emergency Rally

Tensions in Rivers State deepened on Monday as the Nigeria Police came under fire for their handling of two separate protests in support of and against the ongoing state of emergency in the state. Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara condemned the police for what he described as a harsh crackdown on women protesting in his favour, while allowing a parallel demonstration in Port Harcourt to proceed undisturbed.

In Port Harcourt, a group of women under the banner *Rivers Women for Peace and Good Governance* marched in support of the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu. Clad mostly in white, the women displayed placards endorsing the emergency declaration and President Tinubu, while calling for an investigation into Fubara’s administration. Led by former Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Inime Aguma, the protesters claimed that the emergency rule had restored peace to the state and praised the leadership of Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.). Their protest, which began at Garrison junction and ended at Isaac Park, was carried out peacefully under police supervision.

In contrast, security operatives reportedly used teargas to disperse over 200 women demonstrating in Ahoada East Local Government Area. The women, drawn from Elleye and Engine communities and organized under the *Rivers Women Unite for Sim*, called for Fubara’s reinstatement and condemned the appointment of a sole administrator. Despite their peaceful march and placard-bearing protest, officers allegedly fired teargas after attempts to block their procession failed. Videos from the scene showed chaos, with elderly women crying, choking, and being led away after the teargas deployment. In one widely shared clip, soldiers were seen pushing protesters and confiscating banners.

The unequal treatment of the two groups sparked outrage. Jerry Omatsogunwa, Special Adviser to Governor Fubara on Electronic Media, accused the police of operating with “double standards,” praising the Ahoada protesters as “heroes of democracy” while criticizing those in Port Harcourt for supporting “illegality.” He condemned the security response in Ahoada, noting that one elderly protester fainted due to the teargas and questioned the motives of the state’s police leadership and the sole administrator.

Governor Fubara also expressed strong disapproval of the police’s actions, accusing them of suppressing peaceful demonstrations and acting in a politically biased manner. The former governor’s allies have pointed to a pattern of repression targeting those opposing the emergency rule.

The protests come amid a broader political crisis in Rivers State. President Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly, appointing Ibas as sole administrator for six months. The National Assembly approved the move, but 11 PDP governors have challenged its legality at the Supreme Court, arguing it violates the constitution.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has begun preparing the federal government’s legal response, setting the stage for a constitutional showdown that could redefine the limits of presidential power in Nigeria.