Nigerian soldiers on Thursday morning forcefully dispersed about 5,000 peaceful protestors in Ogoni, Rivers State, a report from the area said. Some of the protestors alleged that they were brutalised and injured.

Spokesman for the protestors, Mr. A. Maabana, said they were protesting against the forceful entry into Ogoni by Shell without consultations with The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP).

Maabana said the protestors carried green leaves calling on Shell to leave Ogoni land when they were intercepted by a large number of Nigerian soldiers who beat them up, forcing them to disperse for their safety.

The Nigerian Army was yet to react to the allegation as at the time of filing this report.