- Safiu Kehinde
Nigerian human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has faulted the joint security operatives’ attack on protesters agitating for the release of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
NPO earlier Reported that armed Police officers had in collaboration with other security operatives tear-gassed and dispersed the protesters who had on Monday morning converged in front of the Transcorp Hilton’s hotel in Abuja before moblising across the streets of the capital city.
The joint security Force engagement with the protesters led to the arrest of Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, and the IPOB leader’s brother, Fineboy Kanu, as well as a handful of other protesters.
Video capturing moment the police fired tear-gas at the protesters showed Sowore running as the dispersed crowd scampered for safety.
Speaking on the incident in an interview with Channels TV, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) Presidential candidate said the attack against the protesters was unprovoked as the protest was orderly and peaceful.
He disclosed his attempt to address the officers deployed to the scene but claimed that none of the over ten convoy had team leader.
“I was talking to them. They didn’t particularly have any leadership in about ten trucks that arrive at the same time as soon as we started the protest and people started coming around.
“There was no provocation on our part. Like we had promised, the protest was orderly and peaceful. It was an unprovoked attack from the Police Force and combined team of security people you see there.” Sowore said.
Meanwhile, the protesters had reconverged in other locations as they continue to press home their demand.