…as police teargas, shoot at demonstrators in FCT
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ites, on Saturday joined June 12 protesters in Abuja to demand President Muhammadu Buhari’s resignation.
The demonstrators protested along major roads in Abuja metropolis to kick against “bad governance” under the Buhari administration.
The protesters chanted war songs and held placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Buhari must go’, ‘Police brutality has not stopped’, ‘Digital right is human right’.
Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) better known as Shi’ites, who have been protesting the continued detention of Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, IMN leader, also joined the protesters.
Marching along major roads, the protesters chanted, “Buhari must go… free El Zakzaky… stop injustice.”
It was learnt that policemen shot live bullets and teargas canisters at the protesters with many of them scampering to safety.
The protesters who converged on the Unity Fountain Abuja, on Saturday, held placards and chanted, “Buhari must go”, “say no to injustice”, amongst other solidarity phrases.
At the Gudu area, Abuja, police officers were said to have fired tear gas canisters, causing the protesters to scamper in different directions for safety.
There have been posts on social media in the past few weeks urging Nigerians to stage a protest against “bad governance” on June 12, the country’s Democracy Day.
Police on Friday also warned Nigerians to stay in their homes and refrain from participating in the planned protest.
Meanwhile, police in Lagos have refuted reports asking that the “sit at home order” be disregarded.
The statement read, “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.
“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.”