Police didn’t stop NASU, SSANU Abuja protest – CP

Police didn’t stop NASU, SSANU Abuja protest – CP

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police (CP), Benneth Igweh, yesterday night refuted claims by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that the police prevented union members from protesting.

Reacting to the development, Igweh dismissed allegations  by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that the operatives of the FCT police command restricted members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, from leaving the protest ground and also deployed armoured vehicles, assault dogs, and police personnel to break up the peaceful protest using excessive force at Unity Fountain in Abuja on Thursday.

A statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh said: “The command wishes to state that it clearly recognises and understands the rights of the citizens to freedom of association and expression and wouldn’t prevent citizens from exercising such rights. Hence, it didn’t deploy armoured vehicles, assault dogs, or personnel to use excessive force to prevent protesters from exercising their rights.

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“The command wishes to state that there was an understanding and agreement between the associations and itself that the protest should be held within the unity fountain, where representatives of each association will address the press and subsequently take their complaints on behalf of others to the appropriate authorities without entering the streets. The agreement was reached to prevent potential hijacking of the protest by some unscrupulous elements, hence the restriction.

“The commissioner of police FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, wishes to reaffirm that the command is committed to upholding the right to peaceful assembly while prioritising the safety of the general public. He also noted that the command appreciates the cooperation of the community and will continue to work diligently to maintain a safe environment for all.”

Police didn’t stop NASU, SSANU Abuja protest – CP