Maha Christopher
Tensions rose at the Ministry of Defence in Abuja on Thursday as police officers reportedly took over the scene of an ongoing protest where citizens are demanding action on insecurity and greater accountability from authorities.
According to an Instagram post by businessdaytelevision_ng, social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), said military personnel initially present at the venue had withdrawn before police officers moved in.
Videos shared from the protest showed demonstrators alleging that security operatives deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.
“Police wan shoot tear gas. This is the country we find ourselves in. Where we are asking for accountability, they are trying to silence us,” one protester was heard saying in the video.
VDM also accused authorities of attempting to suppress the demonstration, insisting that the protesters were only demanding answers over the country’s worsening security situation.
“We are demanding accountability, but they are trying to silence us,” he said.
The demonstration was organised to draw attention to rising cases of killings, kidnappings and other violent crimes across the country, with participants urging the government to take more decisive action to address insecurity.
Protesters also called for greater transparency and accountability from security agencies in handling the nation’s security challenges.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigeria Police Force nor the Ministry of Defence had issued an official statement regarding the allegations made by the protesters.
Security operatives remained at the scene while the demonstration continued.
