The Nigeria Police has come under attack from the Senate and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over its use of brute force to disperse a group of protesters in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Senate in a statement released by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi, said that while it condemns the subject of the protest which aimed to force President Muhammadu Buhari to either terminate his medical vacation or resign, it was against the violation of the fundamental rights of the protesters and all Nigerians.

Sabi argued that the police had no right to apply force on them as far as they did not conduct themselves in manners that breached the nation’s constitution or obstruct public peace during their protest.

“While we are opposed to the subject of the protest, the Senate acknowledges the fact that the protesters have the constitutional right to gather and express their views in a manner that will not breach public peace, order and tranquility.

“Since the ‘Our-Mumu-Don-Do’ protesters did not conduct themselves in such a manner as to disturb public peace, it is not right for the police to brutalise the people as they reportedly did yesterday,” the statement read.

Sabi further urged the police to review their rules of engagement and ensure that their modes of operation were in conformity with acceptable practices in civilized and modern societies.

In a related development, the NLC also condemned the action of the police, saying it was a violation of the fundamental rights of the citizens who have the right to protest and express their feelings on any subject matter.

In a statement released by its General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC condemned the use of water cannons, tear gas and other offensive means by the police to disperse peaceful protesters who were only seeking solutions to the prolonged absence of their President.

“What we expected of the police, who have relatively done well with regards to public protests in recent times, was to sit it out with these protesters,” Ozo-Eson said.

“The resort to violent dispersal is not only a violation of rights of the protesters and norms of civilized behavior, but a smirch on the record of IGP Ibrahim Idris, who during his oath of office, had assured Nigerians that the police under his watch would police in line with democratic culture,” he added.

He further added that the violent action of the police was reminiscent of the dark days when the rights of the citizenry were trampled upon and urged the police to respect the fundamental rights of citizens to assemble in peaceful protests irrespective of the  subject matter.