Police to arraign eight arrested ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu’ protesters

 

Eight people, including a lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and a relative  to Nnamdi Kanu, Fineboy Kanu were arrested during yesterday’s #FreeNnamadiKanuNow protest in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest of protesters, said they would be arraigned in court.

 Hundeyin also dispelled speculations that live bullets were fired at protesters.

According to him, the police, in line with Standard Operating Practice (SOP) fired teargas to disperse protesters who attempted to cross into the areas from where they were restricted by a court order.

“I can state categorically, authoritatively, that no live ammunition was fired. It’s very easy for people unfamiliar with the sounds to mistake the firing of tear gas for live ammunition.” 

“They (those arrested) are currently at the state CID. Once we conclude investigations, they will be prosecuted,” he added.

He argued that the police obtained an order from the Federal High Court restricting protesters from accessing certain parts of the FCT and key national institutions.

The action against the protesters, according to him,  was taken based on intelligence reports suggesting that the protest could degenerate into violence.

“There was a group that protested along this road some years back, and it was anarchy. We saw ambulances burnt down. We cannot allow that to happen again,”  Hundeyin recalled. 

Protest for the release of Kanu, sparked a sweeping security lockdown around the Presidential Villa and other parts of Abuja, causing gridlock on many roads.

The demonstration, led by the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, had prompted heightened security across the FCT.  

By dawn, combined teams of soldiers, police officers, and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had mounted barricades on major entry points leading into the Central Business District (CBD), paralysing vehicular movements and leaving thousands of commuters stranded.