Protest rocks FCT council over alleged police brutality
Some residents of Bwari, the headquarters of the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have staged a protest over alleged police brutality and harassment in the area. The protesters, mostly youths and women, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Say No to Police Brutality in Bwari,” “Say No to Police Oppression,” and […]
Policemen with some of the protesters in Bwari council area
Some residents of Bwari, the headquarters of the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have staged a protest over alleged police brutality and harassment in the area.
The protesters, mostly youths and women, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Say No to Police Brutality in Bwari,” “Say No to Police Oppression,” and “Police Are Our Friends—We Should Not Be Scared of Them,” among others.
Abuja Metro learnt that there have been complaints of indiscriminate arrests of residents by the police, especially at night.
Residents alleged that victims of such arrests are often tortured and, in some cases, exploited by the police before being released.
The police in the area have since debunked these allegations.
The leader of the protesters, Comrade Habaku Japheth, said the demonstration was organized to draw the attention of relevant authorities to the alleged misconduct and to demand justice and accountability.
He explained that the protest aimed to seek justice for victims, end harassment, and call for an immediate halt to illegal night arrests.
He urged authorities to take swift action to address these grievances.
Abuja Metro reports that the Police Area Commander of Kubwa later addressed the protesters, noting that the police management is already aware of the situation.
The Area Commander assured the protesters that the matter is being handled and promised to provide an update within two weeks.
While appealing to the protesters to suspend further demonstrations, she warned that continued protests could be hijacked by miscreants, potentially leading to a security breach.
She pledged to ensure their grievances are addressed and urged them to remain calm and law-abiding.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, confirmed the protest via a WhatsApp message to our reporter.
“Yes, there was a protest, but the situation has been brought under control,” she wrote.