Gridlocks as police mount barricades in P/Harcourt

Gridlocks have paralysed activities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, following the decision of the police to erect barricades on major roads to cordon off their stations and other formations.

The strategy, it was gathered, was one of the desperate measures adopted by the police to stop ongoing attacks on their formations and killings of their personnel by trigger-happy gunmen.

Unidentified gunmen have so far killed about 11 policemen in various surprised attacks they launched against security formations in different parts of the state.

There was panic in the police as unverified claims filtered in that the gunmen were staging a comeback to attack more police formations.

The police personnel in Rumuji Divisional Headquarters were said to have embarked on a show of force by releasing warning shots in the air and throwing teargas canisters.

The police operatives reportedly shut down traffic on the lane leading to their station on the East-West road, diverting traffic to one lane.

Used tyres and other obstacles were used to barricade major roads where police formations were located in the capital city.

Residents were having a hectic time navigating the city because of the traffic jam caused by the barricades.

The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, SP. Nnamdi Omoni, said there was not cause for alarm

Omoni said: “Please, let’s be properly guided. The state is calm and has not witnessed any other attack apart from those of last week Friday.”