By Kingston Magare 12.6.2026
African Action Congress leader Omoleye Sowore needed urgent medical attention after police showered him and others with teargas during a peaceful protest Friday in Abuja.
The demonstrators encountered the police as they marched towards the Eagles Square, and the police fired canisters of teargas at Sowore and his companions.
Amnesty International in a statement said the police recklessly attacked peaceful protesters and specifically targeted Mr. Sowore, who collapsed and gasped for air.
“The Nigerian authorities are clearly using violence to crack down on human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” AI said in the statement.
“Such targeting of activists solely for exercising freedom of assembly is unlawful and shows utter disregard for the rule of law.”
The organisation added that under President Tinubu there has been a violation of constitutional guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of association and demonstrate commitment to international human rights obligations.