Protest: Mother with baby confronts police after teargas, pepper spray at Eagle Square, Abuja

…protesters shout down minister

By Clement Adeyi, Abuja

Officers of the Nigeria Police stationed at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Thursday dispersed protesters with canisters and pepper spray during the #EndbadgovernnaceinNigeria hunger protest at the venue.

The officers fired canisters at the protesters by 10.00 am after first firing a warning non-lethal shots at the ground.

A woman with a baby, who was visibly angry, confronted the police officers and dared them to shoot.

More tension mounted when other protesters too joined her and dared the officers to shoot. In response, the police fired pepper spray as well as teargas canisters to disperse the protesters.

As of the time of filing this report, it couldn’t be confirmed whether the police arrested the woman who confronted the officers with a baby.

Protesters also shouted down the Minister of State for Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, who arrived the Eagles Square in Abuja to address the protesters.

When he wanted to address the crowd, the protesters continued to chorus “hunger dey” and prevented him from speaking.

After he was able to restore order, the minister told them that his intention was not to stop the protest. He described himself as a comrade who had attended not less than 100 and 500 protests.

“I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest, it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,” the minister said.

He also assured that he would address the police regarding the shooting of canisters against the protesters.