Police on Tuesday in the nation’s capital, Abuja, fired teargas at hundreds of protesters participating in the #FearlessInOctober demonstration against poverty, hardship, and bad governance.
The incident took place in the Jabi and Utako areas forcing residents and protesters to run for their safety.
The protesters carrying banners with statements like “We are hungry” and “Enough is Enough–Revolution Now.” were part of a nationwide movement demanding an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and poor leadership.
It was gathered that some of the protesters were injured during the alleged crackdown, but the organizers have not released an official number of those affected.
Nigerian security forces, also sealed off Eagle Square, in Abuja and dispersed a protest by the #FearlessInOctober demonstrators.
A combined team of police and military personnel, blocked access to the square, a strategic location near the National Assembly and Presidential Villa that symbolizes Nigeria’s seat of power.
One of the protesters said: “The Nigerian government seeks to repress, suppress, and oppress the Nigerian people to the point where they become too afraid to express their fundamental rights.
“However, today, we are showing the government through our actions here that our voices can never be silenced. The government should not expect us to remain quiet in the face of our poverty, suffering, insecurity, and poor leadership in every sector. A bag of rice costs about N100,000, and we are buying fuel for over N1,000. And you say that is not enough? No.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command of Nigeria Police Force, however, described the alleged attack on protesters as false and misleading, saying it only took proactive measures to prevent miscreants from taking advantage of the protests to loot shops.
Refuting the incident in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, by the FCT Police Spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, on behave of the Command, said: “The FCT police command is aware of the reports making the rounds that policemen attacked protesters at Utako Market in Abuja earlier today, 1st October, 2024.
“The command wishes to categorically debunk the narrative, tagging it completely false and misleading. Acting on intelligence, the operatives only took measures to forestall some miscreants who were taking advantage of the protest to loot shops in the market and as a result, extended focus to them. As a responsible agency, we could not stand by and allow traders to be robbed of their hard-earned money and belongings without intervening.
“We therefore urge the populace to disregard such misleading and mischievous information, as the command is committed to ensuring the safety of the populace in the exercise of their civil rights.”
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