Police condemned for tear gassing protesters in Abuja, Rivers demonstrations

The police commands in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State have faced sharp criticism for using teargas to disperse peaceful protesters rallying against Nigeria’s economic hardship.

Demonstrators gathered as early as 7 a.m. on Tuesday to protest government policies they believe are responsible for worsening economic conditions. However, by 8:54 a.m., the FCT police forcefully intervened, halting the demonstration.

The protest, dubbed #FearlessInOctober, builds on the #EndBadGovernance movement and highlights growing public frustration over the nation’s economic struggles.

Despite the early dispersal, rights group Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) condemned the police’s actions as a violation of democratic freedoms.

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Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, criticized the police for provoking the protesters by deploying tear gas, accusing them of working to suppress dissent.

He further alleged that the police in Rivers State collaborated with armed thugs to attack demonstrators in Port Harcourt, adding to concerns about police brutality and their alignment with political interests.

Onwubiko warned that such actions could escalate tensions, recalling the police’s violent response during the August anti-government protests. “The Nigeria Police Force has increasingly become an enemy of democracy, often deployed as a tool to suppress citizens standing up against oppressive governance,” Onwubiko stated.