Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday fired teargas canisters to disperse protesters attempting to approach the Aso Villa in Abuja, in what the police described as enforcement of a subsisting court order.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hudeyin, confirmed the development in a post on his X handle, saying the protesters violated a subsisting court order restricting demonstrations around key national institutions.

According to him, the court order prohibits protests near the Aso Villa, National Assembly, Force Headquarters, Court of Appeal, Eagle Square and Shehu Shagari Way.

Hudeyin said, “Police teargassed protesters attempting to approach Aso Villa in clear contravention of a court order restricting protesters from the Villa and other listed areas.

“We are the country’s foremost law enforcement agency. We carried out our mandate.”

He dismissed claims that the police blocked major roads, explaining that officers only cleared routes previously obstructed by the demonstrators to allow free movement for other citizens.

The Guardian reports that commuters waiting for vehicles to their workplaces were caught in the chaos as security operatives fired tear gas canisters, causing panic and confusion.

Human rights activist and convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore, accused the police of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful demonstrators.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Sowore alleged that the police fired live ammunition and tear gas shortly after the rally began in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

He claimed that several protesters, including Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer, were arrested and beaten before being taken to the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.

“Eventually, they did arrest some people. I heard Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother was arrested and beaten, and his lawyer was also arrested and beaten,” he said.

“There were about 10 police trucks that arrived as soon as we started the protest. There was no provocation on our part. It was peaceful and orderly. Suddenly, they started shooting tear gas and even some live bullets. Luckily, no one was hit,” he added.