Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack on peaceful protesters during Monday’s #FreeNnamdiKanu rally in Abuja.
Sowore made the accusation while speaking on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television, on Monday.
He alleged that security forces opened fire shortly after the peaceful demonstration began in front of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
According to him, the protest was meant to demand the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, but it was disrupted almost immediately by heavily armed personnel.
Sowore said that several people were arrested during the chaos, including Kanu’s younger brother and his lawyer, who were allegedly beaten before being taken to the Federal Capital Territory (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,” Sowore said.
He described how security forces stormed the venue in large numbers as the protesters began their peaceful march.
“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.
As of the time of filing this report, the number of those arrested could not be immediately confirmed, and there has been no official response from the police or other security agencies regarding the incident.
