Sowore Collapses During Protest Amid Police Attack

Omoyele Sowore, the president of the African Action Congress and a prominent human rights activist, announced his intent to continue public demonstrations following an incident where he collapsed during a protest in Abuja on Friday. The protest was aimed at addressing the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

Eyewitnesses reported that the peaceful gathering turned chaotic when security personnel attempted to prevent the crowd from advancing past a restricted area. During the confrontation, Sowore inhaled tear gas, which severely affected his respiratory system, leading to his collapse.

In a statement released alongside video footage of the incident, Sowore described the encounter as an unprovoked attack by the police, alleging that the security forces deployed tear gas at close range to suppress public dissent and intimidate citizens exercising their constitutional rights. He attributed the police's actions to directives from the administration of President Bola Tinubu, asserting that the deployment of force was intended to silence political opposition.