KEY POINTS
- Omoyele Sowore collapsed after police dispersed protesters with teargas in Abuja.
- Demonstrators were protesting rising insecurity and economic hardship across Nigeria.
- Similar protests were held in Lagos, Ondo, Abia and other states.
Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, collapsed on Friday after operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired teargas canisters at protesters in Abuja.
The protest formed part of demonstrations held across several parts of the country against worsening insecurity and the economic challenges facing Nigerians. Participants carried placards demanding urgent action from the administration of President Bola Tinubu to tackle the country’s security situation and ease the hardship experienced by citizens.
The protesters marched through parts of the Federal Capital Territory before arriving at the Secretariat axis of Abuja, where security operatives moved to disperse the crowd.
Police officers reportedly fired teargas canisters at the demonstrators, causing panic and confusion among participants. The development forced many protesters to flee the area while others tried to regroup.
Sowore Collapses Amid Chaos
Videos circulating on social media showed Sowore lying on the ground shortly after the teargas was fired. Fellow protesters gathered around him and attempted to revive him by fanning him with their placards.
Some demonstrators were heard shouting accusations against the police, claiming that the security operatives intended to harm the activist.
Amid the confusion, several protesters lifted Sowore from the ground and carried him into a waiting vehicle for medical attention
Beyond Abuja, demonstrations were also recorded in Lagos, Ondo, Abia and several other states as citizens voiced concerns over the country’s economic difficulties and persistent security challenges.
The nationwide protests came amid growing calls on the Federal Government to address inflation, rising living costs and the increasing wave of insecurity across the country.
Footage of the incident quickly surfaced on social media, showing the moment protesters surrounded the activist after he collapsed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue an official statement regarding the use of teargas at the protest or Sowore’s condition.