Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin has categorically denied that live ammunition was used against protesters demanding Nnamdi Kanu’s release in Abuja, stating that only tear gas was deployed.
Speaking during an interview with Channels TV from 14:51, Hundeyin addressed allegations that police fired live bullets at demonstrators. “I can state it categorically, authoritatively—that no live ammunition was fired today. Not a single live ammunition. It’s very easy for people who are not familiar with the sounds to mistake the firing of tear gas for live ammunition. It makes the same popping sound, the explosion sound. But I can say it on good authority that no live ammunition was fired,” he said.
The police spokesman responded to claims that protesters had recovered ammunition casings from the ground as evidence of gunfire. “If you talk about tear gas canisters being picked up on the floor, yes, I would agree. But I’m yet to see a bullet. But I’m also confirming again that there was no live ammunition fired at the protesters,” Hundeyin stated.
He explained why police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. “The court has stated it clearly that the protesters should not go anywhere around the areas I mentioned earlier. And these protesters made an approach. They wanted to go to these areas. And as a law enforcement agency, on Saturday we made it clear that we’re going to enforce this court order,” he said.
Hundeyin added that police provided warnings before deploying tear gas. “We gave enough warning for those people to step back and not go beyond where they were. But they were adamant, and they were going to approach these areas,” he stated.
The police spokesman’s denial comes amid conflicting accounts from protesters and activists who claim police used excessive force, including live ammunition, during the demonstration—allegations that remain disputed as no confirmed casualties from gunfire have been reported. See, More, Here>>>
Explore More News By Using The Button Above.