The police in Rivers State have said that the arrest of over 30 persons in Port Harcourt on Sunday was purely a criminal matter with no political undertone.

There were reports have about 30 members of the Atiku Support Organization were arrested by armed policemen during a meeting in the state capital.

According to the spokesman of the Organization, Victor Moses, some of those arrested were state and local government leaders of the group.

He alleged that the police operatives may have acted on the instructions of Governor Nyesom Wike.

In a statement on Monday, the police spokesperson in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko said “the Rivers State Police Command on 5th February 2023 at about 1.30 pm arrested Thirty-two (32) persons from two hideouts in connection with suspected cult-related activities.”

Iringe-Koko said the police in the state have been carrying out targeted raids of criminal hideouts because of the incidents of cult clashes that have been recorded lately.

The PPRO also clarified that the arrest was not related to any political meeting, adding that those arrested were being profiled, with seven of them having already been released.

She added that all others found to be clean will be released soonest while those found guilty will be charged in court.