Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has banned public protests in the state.

State commissioner for information, Emma Okah, in a statement on Thursday said the ban was necessary to curb incessant protests in the state.

Mr Okah added that the ban was to take immediate effect and defaulters would be penalised.

Wike’s ban on public protests comes just after he inaugurated two judicial commissions of inquiry to investigate the violence that marred the general elections in the state and the May 11, 2018 attack at the judiciary complex in Port Harcourt.

“All security agencies are directed to enforce the ban in the interest of public peace, safety and order in the state.

“The public is requested to comply with this interim measure as defaulters will have themselves to blame,” the statement said.

The main opposition party in Rivers, All Progressives Congress (APC), have said they would issue a statement on the ban on public protests in the state.