top of page

Journalists, Protesters Forced to Run as Police Open Fire on Demonstrators at MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja[VIDEO]

Esther

A distressing incident unfolded on Saturday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja during the ongoing "end hunger protest."


The protest, which had entered its third day, saw a large gathering of mostly young demonstrators rallying against bad governance and economic hardship in Nigeria.


The protesters had assembled peacefully in front of the stadium when heavily armed men from the Nigeria Police Force arrived at approximately 11:45 AM.

Despite orders to disperse, the protesters, along with journalists covering the event, refused to leave the venue.


In response, the police opened fire, using both live bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd. This sudden escalation forced many to flee for safety, creating a chaotic scene as people scrambled to avoid the gunfire.

The protests, which began on August 1, 2024, have been marked by widespread discontent over the country's spiraling economy and the removal of subsidies on essential commodities like gas and electricity.


These government reforms have exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis, leading to what has been described as Nigeria's worst economic hardship in a generation.


In addition to the events at the MKO Abiola Stadium, similar scenes of violence and unrest have been reported across various states in Nigeria.


On the first day of the protests, security forces fired tear gas and gunshots to control crowds in multiple locations, resulting in at least two fatalities in Niger state.


The demonstrations, dubbed a "day of rage," have seen participants calling for an end to chronic corruption and poor governance.


Rights groups and activists have condemned the excessive use of force by the police, arguing that the peaceful nature of the protests did not warrant such a severe response.


Anietie Ewang, a Nigerian researcher with Human Rights Watch, emphasized that the threat posed by the protesters "did not require that level of response."




5 views0 comments

Comments


KEEPING YOU UPDATED

© ICMNEWS: 2020-2024

bottom of page