Police fire gunshots, teargas to disperse Lagos, Abuja protesters

 

The police fired several gunshots and canisters of teargas into the air in a bid to stop protesters who gathered in Lagos and Abuja on Saturday.

About three hilux vehicles and two armoured tanks were seen at the Lagos venue.

Shi’ites joined June 12 protesters in Abuja to demand the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

As Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day, the protesters stormed major roads in Abuja metropolis to kick against “bad governance” under the Buhari administration.

They chanted songs and held placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Buhari must go’, ‘Police brutality has not stopped’, ‘Digital right is human right’.

But pro-Buhari groups also staged a protest in Abuja.

While pro-democracy groups’ protesters met at Gudu Park,  pro-Buhari protesters gathered in front of the Unity Fountain. The pro-democracy protest was earlier scheduled for the Unity Fountain but the venue was suddenly changed to Gudu Park.

Despite the warning by the police against the protest in Lagos, the protesters still found their way to the Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area.

The Lagos police command in a statement had asked the people to disregard any sit-at-home order called by some groups and go about their normal business.

It stated, “The Lagos State Police Command wishes to state clearly that it is not aware of any planned protest in Lagos State to commemorate the 2021 Democracy Day on Saturday, 12th June, 2021,” the statement reads.

“In this regard, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, therefore appeals to members of the public to disregard any sit-at-home order called by certain groups which is being circulated on the social media and go about their lawful businesses, as the police and other security agencies have made necessary arrangements to maintain law and order across the state.”

In Abuja, members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) better known as Shi’ites, were part of those protesting the continued detention of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

“Buhari must go… free El Zakzaky… stop injustice,” the protesters chanted as they marched along the streets.