Chaos erupted in the Federal Capital Territory on Democracy Day as armed police operatives reportedly fired tear gas at close range to disperse protesters led by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore during a demonstration against insecurity, economic hardship, and governance failures.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described a tense standoff that quickly escalated when security personnel moved in on the peaceful procession of demonstrators associated with the Take-It-Back Movement and allied civil society groups, who had converged in parts of Abuja to demand urgent government action on killings, abductions, and worsening living conditions.
Witness accounts and videos circulating from the protest allege that officers advanced on the crowd before unleashing tear gas canisters at very close range, forcing protesters, journalists, and bystanders to scamper for safety in different directions. Several participants were seen coughing, retreating, and attempting to shield themselves from the heavy chemical smoke that engulfed the area.
The demonstration, which formed part of nationwide Democracy Day actions, had drawn activists, rights advocates, and political figures who insist that Nigeria’s democratic space is shrinking amid rising insecurity and economic distress. Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans demanding accountability and an end to what they described as “state negligence.”
Security authorities had yet to issue a detailed official statement at the time of filing this report, but the confrontation has already sparked renewed outrage among civil rights observers, who argue that the use of force against demonstrators reflects a deepening intolerance for dissent.
As calm was gradually restored in parts of the city, organizers vowed that the protest would continue in other forms, insisting that the voices of citizens demanding safety and good governance “cannot be silenced by tear gas or intimidation.”