By Rachel Okporu Fadoju

Police officers on Tuesday fired teargas at protesters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, during the #FearlessOctober protest against hardships and poverty.

Naija News reports that many Nigerians in the nation’s capital and Lagos State joined the #FearlessOctober protest on Tuesday morning.

According to SaharaReporters, policemen were reportedly seen shooting teargas canisters and ammunition at the protesters who were peacefully demonstrating against the hardship under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The source added that protesters scampered for safety in areas believed to be the Jabi and Utako environs of the FCT due to the shooting incident.

#FearlessOctober Protesters Rally In Lagos Under Heavy Security

Meanwhile, protesters gathered on Tuesday morning at the Ikeja Underbridge in Lagos to mark Nigeria’s 2024 Independence Day with a demonstration against the economic challenges facing the country.

Naija News reports that the protest, organized under the banner #FearlessOctober1, is taking place amidst tight security, with a significant presence of law enforcement.

ecurity personnel at the scene include police officers, members of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Leading the police contingent is the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, who is overseeing the demonstration closely.

Protesters, chanting solidarity songs, held placards with messages such as “Reverse electricity tariff now,” “End all attacks on democratic rights,” “Reduce petrol price to ?197 per litre; end scarcity,” and “Profit soars while people suffer.”

Civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution, and the Socialist Workers League, are at the forefront of this protest.

This marks the second large-scale protest in two months, as Nigerians continue to voice their frustration over worsening economic conditions.