On Thursday, heavily armed Nigeria Police officers fired teargas canisters at peaceful protesters near the Eagle Square in the Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
The Three Arms Zone, housing the Presidential Villa, National Assembly, Supreme Court, Federal Secretariat, and Head of Service, is the center of government power.
The protesters, who remained largely peaceful, were demanding an end to hunger, noting that ulcers have become common among Nigerians. They questioned why the police would shoot at them, having previously provided security for a pro-government group a few days earlier.
Initially dispersed around 8 am, the protesters regrouped, urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene. Around 10:30 am, while journalists were interviewing some of the protesters, a policeman fired a canister in their direction.
As many fled, a young woman with a baby approached the policemen, daring them to kill her and her child. Efforts to identify the woman were unsuccessful as police continued to fire teargas canisters at any civilians within sight.
During the commotion, a government official attempted to address the protesters. His initial attempts to speak were drowned out by loud chants of “hunger dey.” After identifying himself as a comrade who had attended over 500 protests, the protesters calmed down to listen.
“I am not here to fight you. I am not here to ask you not to protest. It is your right. Like I said, I have been to over 100-500 protests,” he said, promising to address the police regarding the use of teargas against the protesters.
Despite his assurances, the police continued to fire canisters at the protesters.