NIGERIA (Rivers)- Members of the Save Rivers Movement whose proposed rally turned violent last week in Rivers State, has concluded arrangements to stage another rally at Khana Local Government Area of the state.

The movement said it has again notified the Police about the proposed rally billed for next Sunday and asked for Police protection for those coming to attend the event.

The President of the Save Rivers Movement, Mr. Charles Aholu, yesterday showed copies of letters written to the police on the Khana rally to journalists.

“Our association is a non-governmental organisation that was formed to promote good governance, transparency, accountability and judicial best practices. It is an organisation that was formed to give impetus to the fact that the electorate have to exercise their rights with respect to electioneering activities come 2015.

“We have notified the police to provide us security for our (Save Rivers Movement) inauguration (and rally) in Khana.

“This is a notification to the entire world. Our lawyers have written to them (police) reminding them of the said notification, so we expect the police as a reasonable institution, as an institution that is supposed to be unbiased to provide security on that day (January 19)”.

In the same vein, Leaders of the Rivers Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Wilson Ake, confirmed that the group had formally informed the police about the rally planned for Khana.

He appealed to the police to accordingly provide security and expectedly remain non-partisan in the country’s political activities especially as the 2015 general elections draw nearer.

“We have been reliably informed and we have seen the document too that is before us that the leadership of Save Rivers Movement have notified the police of their impending launching and rally in Khana Local Government Area on Sunday.

“We decided to go to this length to assure the public that the Save Rivers Movement is a serious body and have at many given time followed the procedures as requested or required by law.  We made sure and we are confirming it here they have indeed notified the police. We have two documents to confirm that.

“This is consequent upon what happened on Sunday to one of our colleagues.  We have to take personal interest in what they are doing to stem what happened on Sunday from happening again and we want to appeal to the police to allow peace to reign, to provide security for all the citizens of Rivers State that would be at that venue on Sunday. 

“We wouldn’t want what happened last Sunday to repeat as it has shown that the movement is made up of peace-loving and law-abiding citizens of this country and please let them (police) reciprocate this attitude of our people by giving them protection, by encouraging them to do what they are supposed to do on Sunday peacefully without any repeated ugly incident”.

He lamented the alleged police brutality on Senator Abe, warning that the police should not allow themselves be used by the opposition as tools for oppression.

Also, the leader of the Rivers Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Asita Honourable representing Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, urged the police to properly discharge their duties without favoritism.

“It is the responsibility of the police to protect us.  So, we are appealing to the police to please protect us on Sunday (January 19) that we plan to meet at a rally in Bori in Khana Local Government Area under the platform of the Save Rivers Movement.

“We are Rivers people, we want to save our state from the impending doom that may come if we don’t take the action that we are taking. So we are appealing to the police to please be non-partisan and provide protection for us,” he said.