Reports from Abuja indicate that officers of the Nigeria Police Force have resorted to the use of tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters, despite the demonstration being largely calm and orderly.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the situation as tense, saying that tear gas was fired indiscriminately in areas where groups of protesters had gathered. Many were seen scampering for safety as the fumes spread across nearby streets.
The protest, which witnesses say was peaceful before the police intervention, was reportedly organized to demand justice and better governance. However, the use of tear gas has drawn criticism from both civil rights advocates and members of the public, who argue that peaceful protests are protected under the Nigerian Constitution.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official statement from the Nigeria Police Force regarding the incident or the reason for the use of force.
Voice of the People (VOP) correspondents on the ground noted that several protesters expressed disappointment, insisting they were only exercising their democratic right to peaceful assembly.
One protester told VOP, “We came out to express ourselves peacefully, but the police started firing tear gas at us for no reason. Is it now a crime to speak up in our own country?”
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