June 12: Police Disperse, Arrest Protesters In Abuja
Youths protesting on June 12 were dispersed and some of them arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force around the Apo-Gudu District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The youths, who were dispersed through the use of teargas canisters, began their protests at around 8am, chanting slogans to draw the attention of everyone in the area.
According to their chants, the youths called out the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to end the killings in Nigeria or resign because they had had enough.
“We are tired, Buhari must go. Bring down fuel price, Buhari must go! Say no to injustice, Buhari must go!” the protesters chanted.
They were however dispersed by the police who fired teargas at them and around the area as they ran for safety.
The Police later said in a statement that the protesting youths were members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites.
In the statement, the Police said the FCT Police foiled attempt to invite public disturbance, disperse members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN-Shiites) and other miscreants.
“The FCT Police Command on Saturday, 12th June, 2021 successfully restored calm at Apo-Gudu axis after professionally dispersing a protest by some members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)-Shiites and others targeted at inciting public disturbance and breaching public peace.
“Consequently, the action of the Command was necessitated by the concerns of some agitated residents. However, no arrest was made.
“In view of the above, the Command wishes to state that it is committed to ensuring that FCT residents enjoy a hitch-free Democracy Day Celebration and will not hesitate to bring to book every person or entity that attempts to breach the peace or cause a breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The Command implores residents to remain calm and law-abiding while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property within the FCT.”
Anger over mass kidnappings-for-ransom, a decade-long Boko Haram insurgency and a crackdown on protesters in Lagos last October have put Nigeria on edge and the protesters are demanding that the Federal Government do more to tackle heightening insecurity in the country.
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