A detachment of fully armed Nigerian police officers forcefully dispersed a group of protesters near the Berger Bridge in Abuja on Friday morning.
The incident occurred despite an Abuja High Court injunction restricting protests to the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Eyewitnesses reported that the protesters were caught off-guard by the police action, with several passers-by and motorists also affected.
Some accused the police of high-handedness, criticizing the force used to disperse the demonstrators.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, had on Thursday night urged protesters to adhere to the court’s directive, which was aimed at maintaining public order.
However, protest leaders claimed they had not received official notice of the court order, raising concerns about the communication and enforcement of legal restrictions.
The dispersal of protesters has sparked debates about the balance between maintaining public order and respecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.
As the situation unfolds, the authorities are under scrutiny for their handling of the protests and the measures taken to ensure compliance with the law.
