Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has announced his intention to continue public demonstrations following his collapse during a protest in Abuja on Friday.
The incident took place after operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators gathered to protest the country’s worsening security situation and a series of recent killings.
According to eyewitnesses, the peaceful gathering became chaotic when security personnel moved to prevent the crowd from advancing past a restricted area.
Sowore, who was leading the demonstration, inhaled the fumes, began gasping for air, and subsequently collapsed.
In a statement released on X accompanied by video footage of the confrontation, Sowore described the encounter as an unprovoked police attack.
He alleged that security operatives deployed a strange gas at close range, which severely affected his respiratory system.
Sowore stated that the actions observed in the Federal Capital Territory represent an escalation in tactics aimed at suppressing public dissent and intimidating citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights. He attributed the operational orders to the administration of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the deployment of force is intended to silence political opposition.
