Just in: Police fire teargas carnisters at women protesting in Abuja

The police on Friday fired teargas carnisters to disperse women gathered at National Stadium in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on a ninth day of the #EndBadGovernance protests over high cost of living and poor governance.

It was gathered the women belonging to organisations including the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and Enough is Enough were led by Dr. Abiola Akiode and Yemi Damolekun.

The group of women gathered in the area as early as 7am, holding placards with various messages including ‘End insecurity in Nigeria’, ‘Women against hunger’, and ‘Mr. President, we are hungry’.

According to FCT Police spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, the women were instructed to enter the stadium, but they declined, opting to remain in the area with their signs.

“The women gathered at the stadium gate this morning and they were told to go inside the stadium for their protest, but they refused,” she said.

The nationwide protests in Nigeria, which entered their ninth day on Friday, have been ongoing for over a week, with organisers calling for a 10-day demonstration to demand economic and political reforms.

Since beginning on Thursday of the previous week, the protests have spread across several states, but have taken a violent turn in some areas, prompting state governments to impose curfews to maintain order.