During the #june12protest, it was reported that the Police fired teargas on some protesters, Police spokesperson, Frank Mba has defended the action saying that some protesters became unruly.
He also said that no Nigerian either in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano or anywhere is currently in detention as a result of the isolated incident.
He said;
“We had an isolated case in Abuja where some of the protesters became unruly and in line with international best practices, police fired teargas at them.
“And that is an acceptable mode of engaging violent protesters anywhere in the world, whether it is in Abuja, Lagos, Paris, London, or New York or California. That is internationally accepted.
“We would have problems if we had fired live bullets at them, but when you fire teargas at protesters to disperse them, you are not in breach of any known code, either nationally or internationally.
“I also want to use this opportunity to state clearly that no citizen, either in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano or anywhere, is currently in detention as a result of this isolated incident.
“As long as protesters conduct themselves within the confines of the law; they do not constitute themselves into nuisance, they do not breach the rights of other citizens, they do not obstruct traffic, they do not compel other citizens to join their protests, the police will largely work with them.
“When you protest in contravention of these set of conditions I have given, clearly you are coming in direct conflict with the laws of the land, and the police will never stand by idly and watch you create problems for the entire polity.”
