The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed obtaining a valid court order restricting protesters from accessing key parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, during Monday’s protest.

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said the order, secured on Friday from the Federal High Court in Abuja, specifically barred protests around sensitive national landmarks such as the Aso Villa, Supreme Court, National Assembly, Eagle Square, and the Force Headquarters.

Hundeyin explained that the police sought the court order in line with their constitutional duty to maintain public safety and protect critical national infrastructure.

“We obtained a court order that specifically addressed today’s protest, restricting demonstrations in certain areas such as the Aso Villa, Supreme Court, National Assembly, Eagle Square, and the Force Headquarters,” he said.

“As a law enforcement agency, we are duty-bound to enforce that court order,” he said.

He added that the decision to restrict the areas followed previous incidents of destruction during protests held in those zones.

“The FCT is a large city. Protesters can gather and express themselves in many other places where their voices will still be heard and reported by the media. But those restricted locations contain critical national infrastructure that must be protected,” Hundeyin noted.

Addressing claims that police fired live ammunition to disperse demonstrators, the Force spokesperson dismissed the reports as false, maintaining that only tear gas was deployed.

“I can state categorically and authoritatively that no live ammunition was fired today, none whatsoever,” he said.

“It’s common for people unfamiliar with the sounds to mistake the firing of tear gas for live bullets. But I can confirm, on good authority, that no live rounds were used,” he explained.

Hundeyin said the police followed standard operating procedures and applied minimal and proportionate force when some protesters attempted to defy the court order and move toward restricted areas.

“We issued several warnings for them to retreat and remain within approved areas, but they refused and insisted on moving forward,” he explained.

“In response, and in line with our Standard Operating Procedures, we applied minimal and proportionate force-tear gas only, to disperse the crowd. Nobody was harmed or injured.”

The police spokesman reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to respecting citizens’ right to peaceful protest, while ensuring that public order and safety are not compromised.