Nigerian entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa a.k.a Charly Boy is not in the best of moods at the moment. The former PMAN president said he was assaulted and brutalized during a protest organized on Tuesday at the Unity Fountain in Abuja by a alliance of civil society organizations acting under the aegis of ‘Concerned Nigerians’.
Charly Boy recounted in his chat with newsmen that one of the anti-riot policemen, who pounced on the demonstrators with tear-gas and water cannons, smashed him in the eye with the butt of his rifle.
He said: “We were not even up to 10 people that set out for the Unity Fountain. When we got there, we met close to 200 policemen. Initially they tried to stop us from going further. But we explained to them that ours would be a peaceful demonstration. I gave them the assurance that we were not going to anywhere else and the protest would not be hijacked by hoodlums.
“Before we knew it, they started with the water cannon. Then they tear-gassed us and set their dogs against us. Worried, I went to one of the policemen who was standing near me and asked him why they resorted to such action. Instead of responding to me, he suddenly raised the butt of his gun and hit me in the eye.”
The self –proclaimed Area Father said he was immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment. He added that he saw them beating a TV journalist.
“I saw them beating up that man and smashing his camera. I hope they have not killed him”.