Reports pouring in from the streets suggest today’s protest in Port Harcourt turned violent.
There are indications that while some persons may have died as a result, a number of public properties were set ablaze.
The State Public Relations Officer of the Police, Nnamdi Omoni (CSP) who confirmed incidents on the street told the Telegraph that several police stations were attacked.
He also disclosed that a number of police men on duty had been killed.
According to him, the Area Command office of the police and a station at Elelenwo were among structures that were torched by rioters.
Omoni said the police was doing everything possible to take control of the situation.
He admitted that it has been a black day for Rivers State.
Asked if he would favour the declaration of a curfew in Port Harcourt and its environs, he said that was up to the State Security Council to take such a decision.
It is still not clear what could have led to a wave of violence in Rivers State.
Until yesterday, protests on the street were peaceful and orderly.
There are suspicions that what began as a peaceful protest by Nigerian youths may have been hijacked.
We have learnt that there were gunshots in the Diobu area while commuters were seen trekking long distances because of the withdrawal of most commercial vehicles from the roads.
Eyewitnesses say a man was set ablaze around the Eleme interchange by angry protesters.