Port Harcourt — Fear has gripped residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital as sporadic shootings in different areas of the city by unidentified gunmen continued for the fourth day running, despite the presence of soldiers from the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Restore Hope, in the city.

But the state governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, who reacted to the situation yesterday, warned that the state government would not allow criminals take over the state.

In a special broadcast, Omehia said that the state government would not tolerate a situation where criminals roam the streets of Port Harcourt with guns and other dangerous weapons, intimidating and harassing innocent citizens.

He averred that government has a responsibility to protect citizens from violence saying: "It is clear that what is happening in the state is not for freedom fighters, we are no more seeing people fighting for the emancipation of the Niger Delta and in particular, Rivers State. This is certainly not in the interest of our people, it is therefore not acceptable by Rivers people, more so by government of Rivers State.

Henceforth, anyone who engages in indiscriminate use of firearms, kidnapping, cultism and all the activities inimical to the development of the state will have himself or herself to blame," Omehia said, appealing to parents and guardians to caution their children and wards over criminal acts.

Investigations by Daily Champion revealed that residents of the city have placed themselves on a self-imposed restriction in movement as they exercise caution on where to go to, while there is also an unofficial curfew as residents try to get home before 7pm.

Many parents and guardians have forbidden their wards from going outside their homes or visiting some parts of the city regarded as hotbeds of cultists.

As at yesterday, the sporadic shootings which had been concentrated around, Diobu and Marine Base areas of the city had spread to other parts.

Trans Amadi Industrial Layout, Artillery Junction area, Rumuibekwe Housing Estate opposite the Shell Residential Area, Woji and Sluaghter areas are the new threatres of war.

A student of a Bible school at Akpajo, Eleme identified as Oliver from Imo State was reportedly killed by stray bullets from the gunmen yesterday.

Also another youngman was reportedly killed by gunmen around Railway area in Woji part of Port Harcourt .

Though residents of Diobu, Town and Marine Base may have enjoyed a temporary ceasefire on yesterday there was uneasy calm in that areas as residents moved cautiously.

In the Diobu area, businesses houses were closed before 4pm while at Marine Base movement of persons and vehicles were scanty.

Omehia declared that "Henceforth, anyone who engages in indiscriminate use of firearms, kidnapping, cultism and all the activities inimical to the development of the state will have himself or herself to blame"

He appealed to parents to caution their children and wards before they are harmed by security agencies as government can no longer sit down and which these criminals in the name of peace.