While the recent protest in Port Harcourt may have been justified, the death of a pregnant woman may have defeat the purpose of their actions.

A Pregnant woman and a young person have been killed, while four others were injured as youths in Nkpolu community of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State staged a protest against flood disaster in the area.

According to Guardian the youths were enraged over alleged neglect by the Federal and state government on the flood disaster in the area, which was occasioned by lack of drainage system.

Flood had submerged a part of the major East-West road in the area and sacked many residents, thus making life difficult for travellers and other road users on the busy highway.

Angered by the development, the youths yesterday barricaded the only available lane of the East-West road to press home their demands.

It was gathered that the peaceful protest turned violent when the youths refused a police van to pass through the barricaded road.

The officers got angry and started shooting to force their way. The shooting, it was learnt, forced the youths to turn violent and started destroying property, including cars parked on the road.

A pregnant woman who was due for delivery and was on her way to the hospital when the incident occurred died when the vehicle she was inside was forced to stop and there was no available vehicle to convey her to the hospital as all motorists scampered for safety. It was gathered that she died due to stress and anxiety.

One of the youths, Mr. Aleruchi Woko, who was shot by the policemen, was also confirmed dead at the scene of the incident while four others who sustained bullet wounds are currently receiving treatments at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

The Vice Youth President of Nkpolu, Victor Amadi, said the protest turned violent when the security escorts of the chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, Solomon Eke, arrived at the scene with the council boss and started shooting allegedly at the protesters.

Going by the tragedy in Rivers State, should public protest be outlawed?