By JIMITOTA ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT — RIVERS State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu, has  urged groups wanting  to embark on street   processions or protests in the state to endeavour to seek his approval.

Dismissing insinuations in some quarters that he was biased to have allowed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, led by Mr. Felix Obuah, to embark on a procession on Wednesday on Aba Road, the Commissioner, who spoke to newsmen in his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday, said that the party sought his approval before embarking on the protest.

He said that the Police never disallowed peaceful protests in the state, adding that the Inspector General of Police only directed that all protests must enjoy the approval of the state Police Commissioner.

Mbu, who displayed an award he bagged as the best crime bursting Police Chief in West Africa, at a programme in South Africa, recently, said he was recommended by the Inspector General of Police.

He said that his command recently arrested 97 robbery suspects and 46  kidnap suspects, adding that three robbers were shot dead during an encounter with his men.

He said that his command was poised to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the state during the yuletide season, saying “Because of the ember months, we are meeting weekly now to review strategies.  Any former militant caught carrying weapons will be treated as an armed robber or cultist. So be warned.”