A video released on tge social media yesterday has sparked widespread outrage, showing a high-ranking police officer issuing orders to kill protesters in Jikwoyi, Abuja. The footage reveals a chaotic and distressing scene as officers, equipped with bulletproof vests, initially used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators before resorting to live ammunition.
The video captures the harrowing moment when officers, advancing through fleeing civilians, received orders to “kill them” as they opened fire on unarmed protesters. The chaos is evident as gunshots ring out, halting vehicular traffic and sending people scrambling for safety. A white coaster bus, abandoned with its driver’s door ajar, and tricycles making swift U-turns underscore the pandemonium.
Recall that a similar incident from the previous Saturday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where the Department of Security Services (DSS) and the Police had also allegedly used live ammunition against journalists and protesters.
The current episode has intensified criticism of the Nigerian government, especially following President Bola Tinubu’s recent broadcast that notably failed to address the use of deadly force against demonstrators.
In response to the escalating violence, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has issued a stark warning, suggesting that continued suppression of peaceful protests could ignite a revolutionary movement. The growing discontent among activists and human rights advocates highlights the urgent need for accountability and reform in the handling of civil demonstrations in Nigeria.
