Irrepressible human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, days he will continue public demonstrations despite his collapse during a protest in Abuja on Friday.
Sowore in a statement released on X accompanied by video footage regarding the confrontation, described the attack by the Nigeria police as unprovoked.
The activist alleged that security operatives deployed a strange gas at close range, which severely affected his respiratory system, asserting that the deployment of force is intended to silence political opposition.
Sowore observed that the action represents an escalation in tactics aimed at suppressing public dissent and intimidating citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights.
Sowore’s collapse took place after operatives of the Nigeria Police Force fired tear gas canisters to disperse demonstrators gathered to protest the country’s worsening security situation and a series of recent killings.
Reports say that the peaceful gathering became chaotic when security personnel moved to prevent the crowd from advancing past a restricted area.
