Updated

Thousands of people in the north Nigerian town of Kajuru demonstrated against what they called arbitrary arrests by police after three police officers were killed during an attack two weeks ago.

A resident said two suspects were arrested Saturday while riding their bikes and police early Tuesday rounded up seven more suspects from their homes.

The Kaduna police spokesman, Aminu Lawan, says the arrests were in connection with the Aug. 20 police headquarters raid. He said the community handed over two other suspects who were cooperating with an investigation.

Officers said attackers with sophisticated weapons had freed suspected criminals being detained at the station.

Protesters blocked the roads with barricades Tuesday leading into Kajuru. Heavily armed police and soldiers were deployed to the area, though no violence was reported.