Why we tear gassed anti-Buhari protesters in Abuja – Police

The FCT Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory has stated that the reason it clamped down on anti-Buhari protesters was because of disturbance of public peace and a near breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital. The police explained that the protest which was going on at the Unity Fountain got its attention to intervene when it was turning volatile following infiltration by hoodlums.

According to them, some miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements had infiltrated the protest being carried out by a group of concerned Nigerians under the aegis of “Our-Mumu-Don-do Movement”, led by famous Nigerian musician, Charles Oputa popularly known as “Charlie Boy”.

In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manza, The FCT Police Command said in Abuja today that the group carried out their protest on Monday at the same venue were accorded necessary police presence to safe guard public safety and public peace, and protect their rights to freedom of expression, rights to peaceful Assembly and Association, and right to freedom of movement as provided for in sections 39, 40, and 41 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

This is the excerpt from the statement: “Today 8th August, 2017 the same group assembled at the same venue but allowed miscreants, hoodlums and other unruly individuals to infiltrate the protests, who started blocking the major roads adjoining the Unity fountain, obstructing traffic and preventing movements of other innocent citizens from going to their means of livelihood, and thereby exhibiting unruly behaviours and other violent acts very likely to cause the breakdown of law and order and disturbance of public peace.

“The Police personnel intervened at the point that the concerned Nigerians Group lost control of the crowd and prevented miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements from hijacking the protest to cause mayhem and chaos.