Police defend teargassing #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters, as Amnesty International kicks
The Nigerian Police has defended the use of tear gas by security agents to disperse #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protesters in Abuja.
The detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu who has been in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) since June 2021, is currently facing trial on terrorism-related charges before the Abuja Federal High Court.
The protesters who had gathered to demand his release were confronted with heavy security presence who fired multiple tear gas canisters and gunshots into the air, forcing the demonstrators to disperse.
The incident occurred across several parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the Three Arms Zone, Maitama, and Jabi.
Though it was not clear if any of the protesters sustained any injuries, Sowore, and many others were seen fleeing the scene as the air thickened with smoke.
Reports say that protesters had attempted to march toward the Three Arms Zone; an area housing major institutions like the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, and Court of Appeal, prompting police operatives to fire tear gas canisters in order to disperse the crowd, an action which Amnesty International Nigeria has criticized.
Amnesty International said in a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday: “Amnesty International received disturbing reports of attempts to crack down on peaceful protests holding in Abuja, calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
“People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. Any act capable of undermining freedom of assembly is illegal and portrays unacceptable intolerance of peaceful dissent.”
The group called on Nigerian government to uphold citizens’ right to peaceful protest, which is guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties, while demanding an end to harassment on protesters.
In a response, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a post on his X handle defended the action of the police as legal.
“Police tear-gassed protesters attempting to approach Aso Villa in clear contravention of a court order restricting protesters from the Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square, and Shehu Shagari Way.
“We are the country’s foremost law enforcement agency. We carried out our mandate. And we did not block the road but cleared it after it was blocked by the protesters to enable other Nigerians easy passage to their respective destinations,” Hundeyin wrote.
