Independence Day Uproar: Protesters Scattered As Police Fire Teargas In Abuja and Lagos!

On Tuesday, police officers in Abuja fired teargas at demonstrators participating in the #FearlessOctober protest against economic hardships and poverty in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Reports from Naija News indicate that several Nigerians joined the protest in both Abuja and Lagos, voicing their frustration over the current administration’s handling of the economy under President Bola Tinubu.

According to SaharaReporters, the police were seen firing teargas canisters and ammunition at the peaceful protesters, causing chaos as participants fled for safety in areas around Jabi and Utako.

Meanwhile, the protest extended to Lagos, where demonstrators gathered under heavy security at the Ikeja Underbridge to mark Nigeria’s 2024 Independence Day with a strong message against economic challenges.

Organized under the #FearlessOctober1 banner, the protest saw a significant law enforcement presence, including officers from the police, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), all led by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola.

Protesters, chanting solidarity songs, held placards with bold demands such as “Reverse electricity tariff now,” “End all attacks on democratic rights,” “Reduce petrol price to ₦197 per litre; end scarcity,” and “Profit soars while people suffer.”

Civil society organizations such as the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution, and the Socialist Workers League spearheaded the protest, which marked the second large-scale demonstration in two months as Nigerians continue to express their dissatisfaction with the country’s worsening economic conditions.