Show biz maestro and popular Nigerian entertainer Charly Boy has spoken about how he was brutalized at the protest that held in Abuja, yesterday, Tuesday, August 8, 2017.
In a phone interview with Punch, he spoke about the protest organized at the Unity Fountain in Abuja by a coalition of civil society organisations.
The
coalition known as the Concerned Nigerians demanded the President
resign. The protesters were attacked by anti-riot policemen with tear
gas and water cannons. Charly Boy claims he was hit with the butt of a
rifle on his eye.
“We
were not even up to 10 people that set out for the Unity Fountain,”
said Charly Boy. “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.“
Protesters in Abuja
Charly
Boy was quickly rushed to the hospital for treatment. The veteran
entertainer also revealed that a journalist was allegedly beaten up at
the venue of the protest.
Charly Boy has vowed he will continue with the protest.