By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Youth numbering up to 15,000 who came from different parts of Ebonyi State resisted police intimidation and firing of teargas to disperse them from the ongoing one-million man rally organized to show solidarity to one of the leading presidential aspirants, Mr.Peter Obi on Saturday.
The incident happened at the designated venue of the rally, Mile 50 Layout, opposite Pastoral Centre, Abakaliki, where the youth were converging for the takeoff, but unfortunately, a team of police officers from Ebonyi State Command stormrd the venue and started shooting teargas sporadically, to disperse them from carrying out the rally, but it was resisted by the youth in the area, while few others scampered for safety into the pastoral centre.
However, when the policemen discovered that those youth were seriously resisting them, they left the venue and moved back to their base but still positioned their officers in different strategic locations in the state to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
In an interview with some of the youth, Mr. Okoro David lamented bitterly over the attacks launched by the police, saying that the one-million man match rally for Peter Obi was peaceful, wondering why police started firing teargas on them, even when they did not cause any public disorder.
Also, Mr.Joel Obasi said that the attack was a calculated attempt to stop and disperse the peaceful rally by the ruling party, but was totally resisted by the youth, since they were not disobeying any law and order.
Furthermore, the youth estimated to be about15,000, despite police resistance, moved round the major streets in Abakaliki to show their support for Peter Obi.
When contacted for reaction, the police spokesperson, Mr.Chris Anyanwu did not pick his calls.
