Abuja, Nigeria – As the protest against economic hardship enters Day 3 in Nigeria, men of the Police Force have fired gunshots at protesters and journalists at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja in a bid to disperse the demonstrators. Seven journalists covering the #EndBadGovernance protest have been detained by the police.
A journalist with Souk TV, Ayoola Babalola who made his arrest known on his WhatsApp status at 12:33 p.m., revealed that they were taken to Wuye Police Station in Abuja where they are currently being held. The post read, “I’ve been arrested, Comrades. I’m being held at Wuye Police Station. We are standing our ground and not releasing our devices.”He added, “I’m being held with Comrade Samuel Victor and five others.”
Protesters had converged in front of the stadium to continue the scheduled 10-day protest a press on with their demands. The MKO Abiola Stadium has been designated as the venue for the protests in the nation’s capital. A court order has restrained the #EndBadGovernance demonstrators from using other areas.
Heavily armed policemen arrived the venue around 11:45am and ordered them to leave. However, the protesters refused and the policemen opened fire on protesters, including journalists at the venue. As they flew to take cover, the police shot sporadically. Bullets pierced a Premium Times reporter’s car conveying journalists out of the location at three different spots.
Nigeria police officers should take caution in handling the issue on ground.