By Christiana Ekpa
Pandemonium erupted on Tuesday at the main entrance of the National Assembly when operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired canisters of teargas to disperse unarmed protesters.
The protesters had gathered at the complex to express their grievances over the Senate’s approval of both electronic transmission and manual collation of election results.
Trouble began when some members of the crowd attempted to forcefully gain access into the National Assembly premises, prompting security operatives to respond with teargas.
In the ensuing chaos, hundreds of protesters mostly women were seen scampering for safety, with several falling over one another in panic.
At least two women, said to be about 50 and 22 years old, reportedly fainted after inhaling the teargas, while others sustained minor bruises during the stampede.
