Nigerian police fired teargas at hundreds of protesters on Tuesday during the #FearlessInOctober demonstration in Abuja, a protest against poverty, hardship, and poor governance. The crackdown, which took place in the Jabi and Utako areas of the Federal Capital Territory, caused panic as demonstrators fled, and residents sought cover.
The protests, part of a nationwide movement, sought to highlight growing economic struggles, insecurity, and perceived leadership failures. Protesters carried banners with messages like “We are hungry” and “Enough is Enough – Revolution Now.”
Amid the protests, Nigeria continues to face skyrocketing food prices and fuel costs, with a bag of rice now priced around N100,000 and fuel exceeding N1,000 per liter. These economic pressures have left many Nigerians struggling to survive.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing injured protesters during the police response, although official numbers on casualties have yet to be released by organizers.
Before police dispersed the crowd, one protester voiced their frustrations: “The Nigerian government seeks to repress, suppress, and oppress its people to the point where we are too afraid to speak out. But today, we are showing the government that our voices cannot be silenced. We will not remain quiet in the face of poverty, insecurity, and poor leadership. A bag of rice costs about N100,000, and fuel is over N1,000 per liter. How is this acceptable?”
The #FearlessInOctober protests, which began early Tuesday, attracted Nigerians from various walks of life, aiming to pressure the government into taking action on the nation’s economic challenges and improving living conditions for the people.
