The Nigerian Police have denied claims that their officers attacked participants of the #FearlessInOctober protest in Abuja on Tuesday morning. This protest was aimed at highlighting economic hardships and increasing poverty in the country. Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT command, stated that their intervention was solely to prevent looting by individuals exploiting the demonstration.
In her statement, Adeh said, “The FCT police command is aware of reports alleging that officers attacked protesters at Utako Market on October 1, 2024. We categorically refute this narrative, calling it completely false and misleading. Our operatives acted on intelligence to thwart miscreants trying to loot shops in the market.”
She emphasized, “As a responsible agency, we cannot allow traders to be robbed of their hard-earned possessions without intervening. We urge the public to dismiss these misleading claims, as our commitment lies in ensuring the safety of citizens while they exercise their civil rights.”
Despite the police’s assertions, there have been numerous reports of confrontations between law enforcement and protesters earlier that day. Eyewitness accounts described officers firing tear gas and ammunition at demonstrators peacefully voicing their frustrations over the economic situation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Videos circulated online showed protesters fleeing to safety in areas like Jabi and Utako as they chanted phrases like “We are hungry” during their march. Many carried banners that read messages such as “Bad Governance has ended the dreams of Nigerian youths, end it now” and “Enough is Enough – Revolution Now.”
One protester expressed their discontent, saying, “We are paying N1,000 for fuel, and you expect us not to protest? What are we saying? We are hungry.”
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