The Federal Capital Territory command of the Nigeria Police has denied reports trending on social media that the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, was shot at by a female police officer at the Unity Fountain, Abuja, today during a protest.
A statement by the command’s spokesperson, ASP Mariam Yusuf, said that, on the contrary, operatives of the command “professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance.”
Police statement reads:
“FCT Police Command wishes to debunk the viral message in some sections of the social media purporting that ‘Omoyele Sowere was shot by a female Assistant Commissioner of Police’ at the Unity Fountain.
“Contrary to the speculation, police operatives professionally restored calm at the Unity Fountain following attempts by a group of protesters to incite public disturbance.
“The protesters who went on the rampage were resisted by police operatives in order to prevent them from causing a breakdown of law and order. There is no record of such incident as at the time of this release.”
However, in a video clip trending online on Monday, Sowore could be seen on a stretcher, being taken to hospital, with a gaping hole on his right thigh, apparently either by a bullet or a tear gas canister fired directly at him.
The command enjoined residents to remain calm and law-abiding while reaffirming its commitment towards the protection of lives and property within the FCT.
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