Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused security operatives of violently dispersing peaceful demonstrators during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanu protest in Abuja.
Speaking on The Morning Brief programme on Channels Television, Sowore claimed that officers opened fire without provocation at the protest venue in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.
He alleged that several individuals were arrested, including Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer, who were reportedly assaulted before being taken to the FCT Police Command.
“Eventually, they did arrest some people. I heard Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother was arrested and beaten, and his lawyer was also arrested and beaten. They’ve all been taken to the FCT Command.
“There were about 10 trucks that arrived as soon as we started the protest. There was no provocation on our part, like we had promised, it was an orderly and peaceful protest.
“Suddenly, from nowhere, they started shooting at us, tear gas, and some live bullets were fired. Luckily, I don’t think anybody was hit with live bullets, but they were just shooting all around us,” he said.
The activist condemned the actions of the security forces, describing them as an attempt to silence citizens exercising their democratic rights to peaceful assembly.