Agitators for the establishment of the Republic of Biafra spread their campaigns which they state in Abia, Delta, Enugu and other Eastern states to Rivers state today.
The agitators, who are also protesting against the arrest of the Director of London-based Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, by the Federal Government, staged a protest today, leading to paralyzing socio-economic activities in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The spokesman of the Police Command in the state, Ahmad Muhammad, said the protesters came into the state from Aba, Abia State on Monday night and that they spent the night at Oyigbo and commenced the protest from there before moving into Port Harcourt.
During the protest today in Port Harcourt, the protesters rode on motorcycles and flying Biafra flags, marched through Aba Road into Port Harcourt city, but were intercepted by the police with a barricade between Rumukrushi and 1st Artillery junction. This led to the scene becoming rowdy and the police had to use teargas in effort to disperse the protesters.
In the stampede that ensued, some of the protesters fell down as they scampered for safety.
But, some of them, who later converged on a spot in the area, claimed that the people that fell down were shot with live ammunition by the police.
One of the protesters, Samuel Elijah, 25, explained that the reason for the demonstration was to make the Federal Government to release Kanu.
Some residents of Aba Road, who were forced to shut their homes and businesses, decried the development, saying it was ill-timed and unnecessary.
They also said the protesters ought to have complied with the procedure for protests to avoid clash with security agents.
On the alleged use of live ammunition on the protesters, the police spokesman declined comment and did not also confirm if arrests had been made. [myad]