Former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused security operatives of attacking peaceful protesters and assaulting key supporters of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, during the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking in an interview with Channels Television, Sowore alleged that Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lawyer, and the IPOB leader’s brother were beaten and arrested by police officers during the demonstration.
He said the protesters, who gathered near Transcorp Hilton Hotel, were peaceful and did not provoke security agents before they were dispersed with tear gas and live bullets.
According to Sowore, “We started the protest in front of the Transcorp Hotel, and security operatives — army, police, civil defence — came. I told them we are not enemies and the protest was not against them. Suddenly, they started shooting tear gas and even live bullets at us.”
He added that although no one was injured by the bullets, several protesters were arrested, including Ejimakor and Kanu’s brother, who were allegedly physically assaulted before being taken to the FCT Police Command.
Sowore described the incident as an unprovoked attack and condemned the actions of the police against citizens exercising their right to peaceful protest.
