Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has accused security operatives of an “unprovoked attack” on peaceful demonstrators in Abuja on Monday.
This is as Sowore claimed that live bullets were fired at the group and that the younger brother and lawyer of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, were arrested and allegedly beaten.
He said that the incident occurred during a protest demanding the release of Kanu.
Sowore alleged that a combined team of Police, Army, and Civil Defence personnel launched a sudden assault on the protesters near the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
“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,” he said.
“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, and tear gas and 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.
The development came after security operatives reportedly fired tear gas and live rounds to disperse protesters demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu in Abuja.
The protest, led by Sowore, took place despite a court order and police warning. Protesters chanted, “Free Nnamdi Kanu now,” “It’s our constitutional right to protest,” and “Don’t tear gas us,” before security forces fired shots and tear gas, forcing them to flee.
