Sowore Collapses as Tear Gas Disrupts Democracy Day Protest in Abuja

Sowore Collapses as Tear Gas Disrupts Democracy Day Protest in Abuja

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was reportedly hospitalised on Friday after collapsing during a Democracy Day protest in Abuja, following the alleged deployment of tear gas by security operatives.

The incident occurred during a demonstration organised by activists and civil society groups to commemorate June 12 Democracy Day and draw attention to pressing national issues, including rising insecurity, economic hardship, governance concerns, and the plight of abducted schoolchildren.

Witnesses said protesters gathered peacefully at Berger Junction before marching toward the Federal Secretariat and Eagle Square. However, the protest reportedly turned chaotic when security personnel fired tear gas canisters into the crowd as demonstrators approached the venue.

The deployment of tear gas triggered panic, forcing protesters and passersby to flee the area. Several participants reportedly suffered breathing difficulties, eye irritation and other effects commonly associated with exposure to tear gas.

Among those affected was Sowore, who was leading the protest. Eyewitnesses said the activist inhaled a significant amount of tear gas and later slumped at the scene. Videos circulating on social media showed fellow protesters rushing to assist him before moving him away from the affected area.

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Sources at the protest venue said Sowore later regained consciousness and was taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. Although reports suggested his condition had stabilised, there was no immediate official statement from his aides regarding his health status.

Witnesses also alleged that security operatives fired additional tear gas canisters while protesters were attempting to assist Sowore, further escalating tensions and dispersing the crowd. The incident reportedly affected motorists, traders and residents around the protest route.

Despite the disruption, some demonstrators regrouped and continued the protest, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to peaceful assembly and expression.

The development has sparked fresh criticism from civil society organisations and human rights advocates, who argue that the use of force against peaceful protesters undermines democratic principles and civil liberties.

The Nigeria Police Force had yet to issue a detailed statement on the circumstances surrounding the deployment of tear gas or Sowore’s reported collapse as of the time of filing this report.

The incident is the latest in a series of confrontations involving security agencies and protesters in the Federal Capital Territory, reigniting debates over crowd-control tactics and the protection of fundamental rights in Nigeria.

Sowore Collapses as Tear Gas Disrupts Democracy Day Protest in Abuja