The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Muhammed Abubakar, has ordered investigation into the ongoing crisis in the Rivers House of Assembly.
Some members of the assembly were on Tuesday engaged in fracas, in the presence of the State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and some senior police officers.
Abubakar, who was fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, exonerated the state commissioner of police of any blame in the crisis.
He said that the police were at the premises of the Assembly on official duty.
He, however, said that the crisis was being investigated by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), from the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“We are investigating that matter and whoever that is found wanting would be sanctioned.
“I have sent a DIG in charge of operations, he is in Port Harcourt and he will give me brief on all the happenings and the action taken by police in Rivers State and necessary action will be taken against anybody who has done anything stupid.”
The IG also dismissed the insinuation that the police took side in the crisis.
He also described as ‘’untrue”, the allegation that the police on Wednesday tear gassed Rivers State Government House.
“You are free to make allegation, but the allegation must be substantiated.
“I have not gotten any written documentation that accused the commissioner of police of one particular offence, till today.
“No reasonable commissioner of police will go and tear gas government house, it is not true.”
Meanwhile, the Rivers Police Command said on Wednesday that its personnel did not fire tear gas at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Angela Agabe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that policemen deployed to disperse protesting youths did not shoot tear gas at the government house.
“No, it’s not true. police personnel deployed to stop protesting youths did not fire tear gas into the Government House.
“Tear gas was used to disperse youths who attempted to enter the state House of Assembly and others who also took over some streets.
“Our personnel did not fire tear gas at the government house,’’ she said.
Agabe said normalcy had been restored to the state legislature while the protesting youths had been successfully dispersed.
“There is calm and things are quiet everywhere, and the police is on top of the situation,’’ she assured.
Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, had alleged that anti- riot mobile policemen fired tear gas at the government house early Wednesday.
Semenitari added that the tear gas was also fired at supporters of the state government.
The youths were supporters of some principal officers of the Hose who are enmeshed in leadership crisis.
