[Press Release] The FCT and Rivers state police commands have been condemned for shooting canisters of teargas at demonstrators, who assembled as early as 7 a.m. on Tuesday, to simply protest the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, which they attribute to government policies and programs.
HURIWA described as despicable and reprehensible, the decision of the FCT police command that intervened and dispersed the protesters at around 8:54 a.m., preventing the continuation of the demonstration.
The October 1 protest is part of a larger movement, building on the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10. Both protests were organized in response to the ongoing economic struggles and dissatisfaction with governance in Nigeria.
Despite the early dispersal, the #FearlessInOctober protest reflects the growing discontent among Nigerians, many of whom are calling for immediate action to address the nation’s economic challenges.
HURIWA also carpeted the Rivers state police command for similarly attacking peaceful protesters in Port Harcourt just as the Rights group said it is possible that the police in Rivers state are working in tandem with armed hoodlums who took part in attacking the peaceful protesters and thereafter occupying the places whereby the protesters had gathered peacefully.
HURIWA, in a media statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said the attack by police with teargas canisters on peaceful protesters, was a provocation aimed at drawing these protesters to react so the armed police can have the immediate reason to then open fire with lethal weapons like the police did all over the Country during the August nationwide protests against bad governance.
“We are worried that the Nigeria Police Force has over the years, become the enemies of democracy and freedoms and have increasingly become the willing tools and the armed wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which are often deployed to kill off Nigerians who dare challenge the oppressors that have unleashed devastating destruction on the economy of Nigeria thereby dismantling the economic activities of millions of Nigerians who are now unemployed, dejected, deprived, starving and massively hungry.”
Signed
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko
National Coordinator,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA). October 1st, 2024
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