Police officers used teargas to disperse protesters who had gathered at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
The protesters had convened there despite the police advising them to hold their demonstration around the MKO Abiola Stadium instead.
As the protesters insisted on protesting at the Federal Secretariat location, the police released teargas canisters to try to break up the gathering. This caused bystanders in the area to hurriedly flee to safety as the teargas was deployed.
The police’s forceful response with teargas came after the protesters had refused to heed the authorities’ request to protest at the alternative venue of the MKO Abiola Stadium rather than the Federal Secretariat site.
The FCT (Federal Capital Territory) Police Commissioner, Benneth Igwe, and a team of police officers were also observed in the area before the teargas canisters were fired at the protesters.
Prior to the confrontation, the Police Commissioner had addressed the press, warning that there would be consequences if the protesters did not relocate their demonstration to the MKO Abiola Stadium as requested by the authorities.
