The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has firmly refuted claims of an attack on protesters in Abuja on October 1, asserting that their actions were solely aimed at preventing looting.

In a statement issued by SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT, the police addressed recent allegations suggesting that officers had assaulted protesters at Utako Market during the demonstration. “The command categorically denies these claims, labeling them as completely false and misleading,” the statement read.

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The police clarified that their operatives acted on intelligence to thwart looters attempting to exploit the protest and engage in theft. “As a responsible agency, we could not stand by and allow traders to be robbed of their hard-earned money and belongings without intervening,” the statement emphasized.

Authorities urged the public to dismiss such misleading information, reiterating their commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens while they exercise their civil rights. Earlier reports had indicated that police used teargas against demonstrators during the “Fearless In October” protest, which aimed to highlight issues of bad governance in Abuja.