Officers and Men of the Nigerian Army were called in to disperse members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria who were protesting at the National Assembly yesterday.
The Shi’ites group converged on the National Assembly to protest the continued detention of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky.
But policemen and other security personnel attempted to disperse the protesters with tear gas, unsuccessfully.
When the confusion did not abate an hour later, men of the Guard Brigade were drafted to quell the protests.
The protesters regrouped at the adjacent Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue their protest.
Police spokesman Anjuguri Manzah said nine persons were arrested.
“Nine of them were arrested and they will be charged to court for breach of public peace and unlawful conduct,” Manzah said.