By Frontline Reporters
There was tension in Abuja on Friday as police operatives fired tear gas canisters at protesters, including activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, during a Democracy Day demonstration against insecurity and economic hardship in Nigeria.
The protest, organised by a coalition of civil society groups, formed part of a nationwide mobilisation aimed at drawing attention to worsening insecurity, rising cost of living, economic challenges, and governance concerns across the country.
The demonstrators, who reportedly marched from Berger Bus Stop towards Eagle Square, were demanding urgent government action to address insecurity, secure the release of abducted schoolchildren, and improve citizens’ welfare when security operatives moved to disperse them.
Witnesses said police officers stationed around Eagle Square fired tear gas canisters at close range as the protesters approached the area, triggering panic and forcing many participants to flee.
Videos circulating online showed protesters running for safety amid clouds of tear gas. Sowore was seen struggling to breathe and being assisted by fellow demonstrators before reportedly collapsing.
Sowore Alleges Use of ‘Strange Gas’
Reacting to the incident, Sowore accused the police of deploying what he described as a “strange gas” during the protest.
According to him, the substance affected his breathing and caused him to collapse.
“Today, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force deployed a strange gas at the protest ground, at close range, which entered my lungs and left me struggling to breathe before I eventually collapsed,” he wrote on social media platform X.
The activist alleged that the action was part of efforts to intimidate and suppress citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free expression.
He further vowed that the protest movement would continue despite what he described as attempts by the government to silence opposition voices.
As of the time of filing this report, the police had not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
Amnesty International Condemns Action
Human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned the incident, describing it as a reckless attack on peaceful demonstrators.
The organisation said reports indicated that Sowore collapsed during the protest and was subsequently taken for medical attention.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International called for an investigation into what it described as the deliberate targeting of activists exercising their rights to peaceful assembly.
The group argued that the use of force against protesters reflected a broader pattern of restrictions on civil liberties and urged authorities to respect constitutional and international human rights obligations.
The Democracy Day protest was one of several demonstrations held across the country on June 12, with participants calling for improved security, economic reforms, and greater government accountability.
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