Tension In Abuja As Police Clamp Down On #FearlessInOctober Protesters

Nigerian police used teargas to disperse #FearlessInOctober protesters who were rallying against poverty, economic hardship, and poor governance in Abuja.

The crackdown occurred on Tuesday in the Jabi and Utako districts of the Federal Capital Territory, causing chaos as residents and protesters scrambled for safety.

This protest was part of a broader national movement aimed at drawing attention to rising economic challenges, insecurity, and ineffective leadership in Nigeria.

Protesters carried banners with slogans like “We are hungry” and “Enough is Enough – Revolution Now” as they called for urgent government action.

The demonstrations come amid soaring costs of basic goods, with food prices and fuel costs at all-time highs.

A bag of rice is now selling for nearly N100,000, and fuel prices have climbed past N1,000 per litre.

Some protesters were reportedly injured during the police intervention, though no official statement on the number of casualties has been released by the organizers.

Before the crowd was dispersed, one protester voiced their frustration, saying: “The Nigerian government seeks to repress, suppress, and oppress the Nigerian people to the point where they become too afraid to express their fundamental rights.

“However, today, we are showing the government through our actions here that our voices can never be silenced.

“The government should not expect us to remain quiet in the face of our poverty, suffering, insecurity, and poor leadership in every sector.

“A bag of rice costs about N100,000, and we are buying fuel for over N1,000. And you say that is not enough? No.”

The #FearlessInOctober protests, which began early on Tuesday, attracted Nigerians from all walks of life, seeking to push the government to take immediate action to improve living conditions and address the country’s economic crisis.

KanyiDaily recalls that in his Independence Day address, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the hardships caused by his reforms, asking Nigerians for patience.