Eight people, including a lawyer Aloy Ejimakor and a relative to Nnamdi Kanu, Fineboy Kanu arrested during Monday’s #FreeNnamadiKanuNow protest in Abuja will be arraigned.
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.
After his arrest, Ejimakor took to his X, accusing police operatives of assaulting the demonstrators.
He said the police detained him and others at the FCT Command Criminal Investigation in Garki.
