By: Sunday Ameh
There was chaos on Monday morning at the Kuje Magistrate Court in Abuja as police officers fired teargas at residents, students, and journalists who had gathered ahead of the case involving human rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
Eyewitnesses reported that heavily armed policemen stationed at the entrance of the court premises fired several rounds of teargas to disperse a crowd of Sowore’s supporters, who had assembled peacefully to demand his release.
The incident also affected nearby residents and students passing through the area, forcing many to scamper for safety as the thick smoke spread across the vicinity.
Videos circulating on social media show security operatives violently preventing journalists and supporters from entering the court, despite their appeals to witness the proceedings.
According to reports, the police had mounted a heavy security blockade around the court, allegedly acting on directives to restrict public access to the trial.
The development has sparked widespread condemnation, with civil rights groups accusing the police of high-handedness and abuse of power.
Sowore’s lawyer and several supporters have since raised concerns over his safety following his recent re-arrest, which occurred shortly after a court granted him bail on Monday morning.
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy was yet to be fully restored in the Kuje area, even as calls mount for an investigation into the police action.
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