The Nigeria Police Force has dispersed #FearlessInOctober protesters who converged at the Utako Market in Abuja firing teargas against the demonstrators on poverty, economic hardship, and bad governance.
The protesters gathered at the market as early as 7 am on Tuesday, 01 October to protest government policies and programs posing tough living conditions for many Nigerians however, police officers dispersed them at about 8:54 am.
Protesters carried banners reading “We are hungry” and “Enough is Enough – Revolution Now.” Again, the protests come as Nigerians grapple with skyrocketing food prices, fuel costs, and widespread poverty. A bag of rice now costs around N100,000, while fuel prices have surpassed N1,000.
It was reported that some protesters were injured during the police crackdown, but organizers have not released an official casualty count.
Before they were dispersed, one of the protesters was heard 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 protesters aim to pressure the federal government into addressing the country’s many economic challenges.
