Nigerian police on Tuesday fired teargas at hundreds of protesters participating in the #FearlessInOctober demonstration against poverty, hardship, and bad governance in Abuja.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nigerian police on Tuesday fired teargas at hundreds of protesters participating in the #FearlessInOctober demonstration against poverty, hardship, and bad governance in Abuja.
The crackdown, which occurred in the Jabi and Utako areas of the Federal Capital Territory, forced residents to flee and protesters to scamper for safety.
Signs of the uncertain development began to emerge when security agents made good their vows of not allowing organisers of the #FearlessOctober1protests use the Eagle Square, Abuja for their demonstrations.
To ensure they had their way, the combined forces sealed of the Square and dispersed a protest by the #FearlessInOctober demonstrators, escalating tensions between protesters and the government.
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Fearless in October protesters dispersed with tear gas in Abuja
Elsewhere, a coalition of Nigerian movements, under the aegis of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM), Northern chapter, of arrest of five of its leaders in Kano State.
In a statement signed by Comrade Al-Amin on behalf of the Secretariat, the coalition identified those arrested as Comrade Abdulmajid Daudu, Barrister Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Barrister Amina Bello, Comrade Sani NaRogo, Comrade Anas, and Comrade Abdullahi.
The coalition claimed that these comrades from the Kano NPFM chapter were taken by the police to Abuja under the instructions of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
“Comrade Abdulmajid Yakubu Daudu left his office this afternoon (Monday) at around 2:30 p.m. to attend a meeting with the Kano State Commissioner of Police at the Bompai Headquarters. He was accompanied by four other NPFM members. As of 7:42 p.m., Comrade Abdulmajid and his colleagues had not returned, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
“All efforts to reach them have proved abortive. “We urge comrades across the country to raise the alarm until Comrade Abdulmajid and his colleagues safely return home.
“No one in their right mind can take the sudden disappearance of Comrade Abdulmajid and his NPFM colleagues lightly. The growing state of political repression in the country makes it more urgent for the Kano State Commissioner of Police to produce Comrade Abdulmajid and his colleagues,” the statement read.
In Ogun state, a heavy presence of security agencies including the soldiers, police and officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were observed at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, one of the designated venues for the #FearlessInOctoberProtest.
Tuesday’s protests were part of a nationwide movement demanding an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and poor leadership.
Demonstrators carried banners reading “We are hungry” and “Enough is Enough – Revolution Now.”
The protests come as Nigerians grapple with high cost of food prices, fuel, and widespread poverty.
