The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has debunked reports that its officials on Thursday, arrested a photojournalist, Jide Oyekunle, during the ongoing protest.
Jide Oyekunle – a photojournalist with Daily Independent – was arrested by men of FCT police during the hunger protest in Abuja. It took the intervention of other journalists to secure his release.
FCT Police Command Spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said Oyekunle was not arrested but was taken to safety.
According to the statement, Oyekunle was taken to a safe location after he refused to leave where he was standing, despite several warnings.
The statement, on Thursday, read: “The FCT police command wishes to debunk the narrative making the rounds about the arrest of a photojournalist, Jide Oyekunle in the ongoing protest taking place around the Eagle Square, Abuja.
“Mr Jide Oyekunle was rather taken away from the perceived unsafe environment for his own safety after being advised to leave where he was standing to a safer location and he declined, as some of the protesters had suddenly become violent.
“While the protest is ongoing, it remains the duty of the police to protect lives and property.”
The protests in Abuja have intensified, with the police using teargas to disperse the protesters marching towards Eagle Square.
Meanwhile, Premium Times journalist, Yakubu Mohammed was also hit with the butt of guns by policemen in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Premium Times, “the police officers hit Yakubu Mohammed with the butt of their gun and their batons until he sustained injuries on his head.
“He was then arrested and briefly detained in a police van placed near the Head of Service Building in the Secretariat area of Abuja.“
