The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has denied firing live ammunition at demonstrators at Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanu demonstration in Abuja.
Benjamin Hundeyin, force public relations officer, spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’.
He stated that the police only fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators who sought to enter areas banned by a court order.
“I can say it authoritatively that no live ammunition was fired today. Not a single live ammunition,” Hundeyin said.
“It is easy for people who are not familiar with the sound to mistake the firing of teargas for live ammunition.
“It makes the same popping, explosion-like sound. I can say it on good authority that no live ammunition was shot.”
Hundeyin said officers resorted to teargas only after protesters ignored repeated warnings and attempted to enter prohibited locations.
“We made it clear that we were going to enforce this court order. We gave enough warning to these people to step back and not go beyond where they were, but they were adamant and they were approaching these areas,” he said.
According to Hundeyin, the operatives acted in line with established procedures to ensure public safety.
“We just conformed to standard operating procedures and we decided to use minimal force — force that is commensurate with the resistance we were getting,” he added.
On Monday, police emptied tear gas canisters on commuters in Abuja’s Central Business District as activists prepared to protest.
Some commuters were waiting for vehicles to transport them to work when they were teargassed. On the first day of the marches, eight protesters were allegedly arrested in the nation’s capital.
The demonstration is being led by Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and a former presidential contender.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his re-arrest in June 2021.
The IPOB leader is currently on trial in Abuja’s federal high court.
