The Publicity Secretary of African Action Congress (AAC), Olorunfemi Adeyeye, has given details on how the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 election, Omoyele Sowore, was shot with a teargas canister in Abuja on Monday.
Earlier reports indicated how a female police officer allegedly directed and fired a tear gas canister at Sowore.
The less-lethal weapon, usually used to disperse rioters, is hot enough to cause burns on the skin.
Reports also said Sowore has been taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment in the federal capital.
Adeyeye, however, told Premium Times NG that a police officer identified as ACP Atine targeted Sowore, who alongside other activists were protesting against the worsening security situation in Nigeria at Unity Fountain in Abuja.
“People were assembled already, right beside the Unity Fountain, but while we were getting close, there was a piece of intelligence information that they should lock the gate, hearing that Sowore will be participating in a protest.
“While we got there, we were trying to engage with the police officers (most senior of them) who then said it’s an order from the commissioner of police that there should not be demonstrations.
“We tried to contest that. In fact, we even called the CP and he said he was not aware of such order.
“We told them that it is unlawful and that you cannot dictate that people should not protest. Not at this particular time when insecurity, which is the major problem, is ravaging the country.
“People were converging and more persons were joining. We’ve not even started anything when this police officer, ACP Atine, mobilised police officers to the place and the first was a shot. It was directed to him — At a very close range.”
, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, has given details on how the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019){kind=link}