The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police command has explained that its officers were forced to use canisters of tear-gas on those protesting against the none return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London when it was clear that the protesters had been infiltrated by hoodlums and miscreants.
In a statement today, Tuesday by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, the command said that it had no choice than to shoot tear gas canisters at the group in order to prevent breakdown of law and order, and disturbance of public peace in the nation’s capital.
The statement said that miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements infiltrated the protest held at Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja, saying: “the Police personnel intervened at the point that the concerned Nigerians Group lost control of the crowd and prevented miscreants, hoodlums and other criminal elements from hijacking the protest to cause mayhem and chaos.”
It said that a group known as “Our-Mumu-Don-Do Movement,” had carried out similar protest yesterday, Monday and were accorded necessary police presence to safe guard public peace, and protect their rights to freedom of expression, rights to peaceful Assembly and Association, and right to freedom of movement as provided for in sections 39, 40, and 41 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
“However, today, Tuesday, 8th August, the same group assembled at the same venue but allowed miscreants, hoodlums and other unruly individuals to infiltrate the protests, who started blocking the major roads adjoining the Unity fountain, obstructing traffic and preventing movements of other innocent citizens from going to their means of livelihood, and thereby exhibiting unruly behaviours and other violent acts very likely to cause the breakdown of law and order and disturbance of public peace.
“It is pertinent to state here that the FCT Police command is fully aware and recognizes the constitutional rights of every citizen including Our Mumu Dondo group to assemble and move freely in any part of the Federal Capital Territory, but the command will not allow any protest under any guise to turn violent and jeopardise the prevailing peace, law and order currently being enjoyed in the FCT.
“The command wishes to assure all residents and visitors to the territory of adequate security and protection of lives and property of everyone including those who choose to express their constitutional rights of protest with decorum.”[myad]
