Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has accused operatives of the Nigeria Police Force of deploying a “strange gas” against protesters during a demonstration, alleging that the substance caused him to collapse after experiencing severe breathing difficulties.
In a statement released on Friday, Sowore claimed that the gas was deployed at close range during the protest, entering his lungs and leaving him struggling to breathe before he eventually lost consciousness.
According to him, the incident reflects what he described as increasingly dangerous methods being used by security agencies to suppress dissent and intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and protest.
Sowore further alleged that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pursuing a strategy aimed at silencing opposition voices through fear and force. He maintained that such measures would not deter activists and citizens from continuing their campaign for what he called “liberation.”
“Repression has never defeated a just cause,” Sowore stated, insisting that he and his supporters would remain steadfast despite the challenges they face.
The Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official response to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
The development comes amid ongoing debates over the handling of public protests and the balance between maintaining public order and protecting citizens’ constitutional freedoms in Nigeria.
Credit: Omoyele Sowore
