BREAKING: Police Teargas Journalists, Hardship Protesters in Abuja, Details Emerge
- On Friday, August 2, fully armed men of the Nigeria Police Force forcefully dispersed protesters at the Berger Bridge in Abuja
- Some passers-by and motorists expressed concern about the development and accused the FCT police operatives of being unprofessional
- Legit.ng reports that the court barred protesters from demonstrating on the streets following a suit filed by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike
Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
Emerging reports have it that a detachment of fully armed men of the Nigeria Police Force on Friday, August 2, descended on a group of protesters, forcefully dispersing the crowd around the Berger area in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Source: Facebook
The policemen fired teargas canisters at the protesters and journalists covering the hardship protest at a separate location within the popular area in Abuja.
Some passers-by and motorists who were caught off-guard could be heard accusing the police of high-handedness.
A publication by Vanguard and The Punch confirmed the concerning development on Friday morning.
This comes after an Abuja high court had earlier granted an injunction seeking to confine protesters to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
The FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, had urged protesters to obey the court order on Thursday night, but the protesters' leaders said they had not been served with a copy of the order.
In a new twist, Wike praised the Abuja protesters for their non-violent approach and emphasized the critical importance of maintaining peace in the nation's capital.
Read more on hardship protests
- Protests: IGP issues fresh order after attack on officer
- Police shoot teargas at hunger protesters in Abuja
- Protest: Foiled bomb attack reported in Lagos
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BREAKING: “Protesters attempted to take over govt houses,” IGP Egbetokun issues fresh order
Protests: IGP issues fresh order after attack on officer
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun disclosed that a policeman was murdered and some officers sustained injuries during the protest while some stations were destroyed.
Egbetokun, who described Thursday’s action as a mass uprising, said his men have been placed on red alert.
He appealed for calm and hinted at the possibility of inviting the army to restore order and prevent further escalation.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
