SAN FRANCISCO, October 19, (THEWILL) – Nigerian soldiers and Police have taken over key locations in Abuja to prevent the #EndSWAT protesters from converging.
The military officers were seen at the Aya roundabout, Asokoro, early on Monday with a barricade, while the CBN was being protected by police officers backed with an Armoured Personnel Carrier and water cannons.
Protesters had on Sunday occupied the CBN headquarters while defying a downpour.
Thousands of young Nigerians have taken to the streets in major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Ibadan and other city centres to protest police harassments and brutality. SARS, has been accused of crimes including extrajudicial killing, kidnapping and extortion.
The Nigerian Army said last week that it was loyal to President Buhari and the country, and that it would defend the country’s democracy.
It issued a stern warning to people it termed “subversive elements”. Many critics believed the army’s statement was targeted at #EndSARS protesters.
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“As a responsible and law abiding organisation, the NA reaffirms its unalloyed loyalty and commitment to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari and the constitution of the country”, Col Sagir Musa, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, said in a statement.
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