BREAKING: Teargas fired as police disperse peaceful protesters near Eagle Square

On Thursday, armed officers of the Nigeria Police fired teargas canisters at peaceful protesters around the outer cordon of Eagle Square in Abuja’s Three Arms Zone.

This area, housing the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Supreme Court, Federal Secretariat, and Head of Service, is the heart of Nigeria’s seat of power.

The protesters, who had gathered to demand an end to hunger and highlight the prevalence of ulcer among Nigerians, were initially peaceful. They questioned the police’s aggressive response, noting that the same security forces had recently provided cover for a pro-government group.

Although the protesters were first dispersed around 8 am, they regrouped, calling on President Bola Tinubu to address their concerns. However, at about 10:30 am, as journalists attempted to interview some protesters, a policeman fired a teargas canister in their direction. This caused chaos, with many fleeing, but a young woman with a baby confronted the police, daring them to kill her and her child.

Efforts to identify the woman were thwarted as the police continued to fire teargas at civilians. During this turmoil, Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, arrived to address the protesters. Despite being initially drowned out by chants of “hunger dey,” he eventually calmed the crowd, describing himself as a comrade who had participated in numerous protests.

“I am not here to fight you. I am not here to ask you not to protest. It is your right. Like I said, I have been to over 100-500 protests,” Olawande said. He promised to address the police regarding their use of teargas, though the canister firing continued despite his intervention.

The situation underscores the tension between citizens protesting economic hardship and security forces’ attempts to maintain order in a highly sensitive area of the capital.

(Vanguard)