A peaceful protest in Abuja turned chaotic on Friday after armed police officers fired teargas at demonstrators marching towards Eagle Square.
The protesters had gathered at Berger Bus Stop and were heading to the Federal Secretariat to press home their demands over the worsening security situation in the country, the release of abducted school children and what they described as poor governance.
Tension rose as the crowd approached the Eagle Square axis, where heavily armed security operatives had been deployed. Witnesses said teargas canisters were fired into the crowd, forcing protesters, journalists and passersby to scamper for safety.
Human rights activist and one of the leaders of the demonstration, Omoyele Sowore, was among those affected during the incident. He was reportedly hit by teargas at close range and struggled to breathe after inhaling the fumes.
People around him quickly moved him away from the area and tried to help him recover. However, confusion deepened when another round of teargas was reportedly fired while he was still receiving attention, sending protesters running in different directions.
The development caused panic around the area, with many commuters abandoning their routes as clouds of teargas spread across nearby roads.
Despite the disruption, the protesters later regrouped and continued their march. They insisted that the demonstration was peaceful and maintained that they would not be intimidated by security agencies.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Sowore said Nigerians must be freed from what he called the oppression and hardship confronting the country. He argued that citizens have a constitutional right to peacefully demand accountability from their leaders.
The protest was organised against the backdrop of growing public concern over insecurity and the increasing number of kidnapping cases across parts of the country. Demonstrators also demanded urgent government action to secure the release of abducted pupils and improve the nation’s security architecture.
