Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has dismissed speculation that he was shot during the Democracy Day protest in Abuja, claiming instead that he collapsed after inhaling what he described as a “strange gas” allegedly deployed by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
Sowore made the clarification in a statement on his verified Facebook page following an incident at the protest ground that sparked concern among demonstrators after he reportedly collapsed during the rally.
According to the activist, the substance was discharged at close range and affected his breathing.
“Today, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force deployed a strange gas at the protest ground, at close range, which entered my lungs and left me struggling to breathe before I eventually collapsed,” Sowore stated.
The activist described the incident as evidence of what he called increasingly aggressive tactics aimed at suppressing dissent and discouraging citizens from exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and protest.
Sowore further accused the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of attempting to silence opposition voices through intimidation and force.
“This incident shows the increasingly dangerous tactics being used to suppress dissent and intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights,” he said.
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“The objective of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu regime is to silence, destroy, and crush all opposition through fear and force. We shall never succumb to any of his worn-out tactics. We will keep going until we achieve liberation.”
The Democracy Day protest, organised by activists and civil society groups, focused on issues including economic hardship, insecurity and governance.
There was no immediate response from the Nigeria Police Force regarding Sowore’s allegations as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has continued to generate reactions on social media, with supporters and critics debating the circumstances surrounding the activist’s collapse during the demonstration.
