The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed what it described as wild accusations by the PDP that the APC was involved in the arrests of its members reportedly made in Okrika and Ogu/Bolo by the Nigerian Police yesterday.

The State Working Committee of APC in a statement confirmed that no member of the APC at the units, wards and local government levels of the party in the areas in question was involved in the said security operations.

“If the PDP is claiming that alleged criminals arrested by the police are its members, then the PDP should look inwardly with diligence to ascertain the reasons and not to raise false accusations against the APC or try to obstruct the security agencies from doing their job,” the party said.

According to the APC, “We, like most residents of Rivers State, are aware that insecurity especially kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism have recently surged across the state including the axis in question. Right within Port Harcourt Metropolis, a policeman was brutally gunned down two days ago less than 24 hours after 3 policemen were also reportedly shot dead and the gunmen reportedly escaped through the waterways along the axis in question.”

Rivers APC said: “If the police, and indeed other security agencies follow the trail of criminals and make arrests, we expect the PDP to support such an action or, at best, be quiet and let the security agencies do their work. That is why the APC refrains from making hasty comments on matters of security as not to unduly jeopardise the good work the security agencies are doing trying to make us all safe.”

“However, the hasty, unguarded and often distorted alarms the PDP raises whenever the Police set out to work tend to suggest that they may know more about the crimes and the criminals behind them than they are ready to tell the world. The PDP in Rivers State should not always politicise everything including matters of security,” Rivers APC advised.

The APC called on the heads of security agencies in Rivers State and their overall bosses in Abuja to disregard and ignore the false alarms and distractions by the PDP and concentrate on carrying out their constitutional responsibilities to ensure that security of life and property return to Rivers State.

•Photo shows Rivers APC Chairman Davies Ikanya.