#FreeNnamdiKanu: No live ammunition was fired at protesters – FPRO

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), CSP Benjamin Hundeyin has said police did not use live ammunition on protesters at Monday’s “FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja.

The police image-maker stated this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday night.

Earlier in the day, videos circulated of protesters, including former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, scampering for safety after what appeared to be sporadic gunshots from police operatives rent the air.

However, Hundeyin said the police only used teargas to disperse protesters attempting to access restricted areas.

He said, “I can say it authoritatively that no live ammunition was fired today. Not a single live ammunition.

“It is easy for people who are not familiar with the sound to mistake the firing of teargas for live ammunition. It makes the same popping, explosion-like sound. I can say it on good authority that no live ammunition was shot.”

According to him, police only deployed teargas after verbal warnings to the protesters against trespassing into restricted areas were ignored.

“We made it clear that we were going to enforce this court order. We gave enough warning to these people to step back and not go beyond where they were, but they were adamant and they were approaching these areas.

“We just conformed to standard operating procedures and we decided to use minimal force — force that is commensurate with the resistance we were getting.”

Source: The Sun