Tension rises as police fire tear gas in Rivers court

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, entering the State High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

The tension building up at the Rivers State High Court took a fresh turn on Tuesday when policemen fired teargas at the crowd protesting the forceful opening of the State High Court.

Journalist, motorists, passersby and the protesting youth inhaled a large dose of teargas fired by angry policemen.

The security operatives were initially calm until the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Dan Bature, came and queried the rationale behind the existence of the angry youths around the court premises.

Teargas canisters were also shot into the Port Harcourt Local Government Secretariat where the youths took refuge.

The irate youths in retaliation also threw empty bottles at the policemen, even as the Bank Road location of the state High Court remained blocked at both ends by security operatives.

PUNCH