Police ‘disrupt’ Niger Delta elders’ meeting in Rivers

Police officers on Thursday took over the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, preventing Niger Delta Elders Forum (PANDEF) from holding its fourth quarter general meeting.

According to Vanguard, the heavily armed police officers, who barricaded the entrance of the hotel, chased away members of PANDEF.

It is unclear why the police prevented members of the group from gaining access to the hotel

Osasu Ekpen Isibor, national representative, host communities of Nigeria producing oil and gas (HOSTCOM), described the action of the police as improper.

He said the police told them that the meeting was cancelled.

“We all came to Hotel Presidential this morning for the meeting only to see everywhere taken over by the police,” Isibor said.

“This is not proper. We do not know what may have led to this development. The police officer told us to go that the meeting has been cancelled.”