A high-ranking police officer was seen and heard giving orders at junior officers to kill protesters at Jikwoyi, Abuja, according to a video shared by Nigerian Info radio on Monday.

The officers who were kitted in bulletproof jackets first fired tear gas at demonstrators before switching to live bullets leaving civilians to flee in different directions to seek refuge.

Despite the fact that protesters ran helter-skelter for cover, police officers were seen advancing towards them and aiming their weapons to shoot. 

“Kill them, kill them,” a presumed high-ranking officer ordered the other officers as they jogged towards unarmed protesters and opened fire.  The sound of gunshots filled the air as cars and other vehicular movements grounded to a halt.

A white coaster bus, whose occupants had already fled, left the door of the driver’s side open and tricycles were seen making a U-turn in the video evidencing the chaos caused by the police invasion.

The incident was reminiscent of when State Security Services teamed up with police to open live rounds at journalists and protesters at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Saturday.

Though the incident drew fury from activists and human rights groups, security forces only seemed emboldened by President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast which failed to address and caution the use of lethal force against demonstrators.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka on Sunday warned of a potential revolution if the government kept feeding bullets to citizens demanding bread.