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By Seun Akioye
What began as a peaceful protest against hardship in Abuja quickly descended into chaos as protesters faced a barrage of violent suppression. The once-calm rally turned bloody, with teargas, bullets, and panic replacing the hopeful chants of the demonstrators.
The Incident at Eagles Square
On the morning of August 1, 2024, I arrived early at Eagles Square, the unofficial gathering spot for the protest despite a court ruling that restricted demonstrations to the National Stadium. The area was heavily guarded, with riot-ready police and armed soldiers stationed nearby. The small crowd, including young people and even a woman with her infant, began to gather, cautiously voicing their grievances.
Inspector Yaro, whom I had befriended, mentioned that senior officers were inside Eagles Square. As more reporters arrived and the crowd grew, the police approached, urging protesters to relocate to the National Stadium. However, tensions rose, and the youth decided to march around the square. The police responded with teargas, causing immediate chaos. A woman screamed that her baby had died, intensifying the panic.
The Clash of Groups
At the stadium’s entrance, I encountered nearly 100 youths brought in on coaster buses from Mararaba, Masaka, and surrounding areas, protesting against the hardship protest. One of their leaders, John Efleke Tumbo, insisted they were surviving despite the hardships. However, it was later revealed that these anti-protesters were paid N5,000 each to participate.
In the middle, police created a buffer between the two groups. Initially, there was camaraderie and solidarity between the protesters and the police, with senior officers assuring they would prevent anyone from hijacking the protest. But as tensions brewed, the protesters decided to move to Eagles Square to avoid confrontation.
The Descent into Violence
As we moved towards Eagles Square, the atmosphere was festive, with music, dancing, and shared food. But suddenly, the situation took a dark turn. A police officer fired a teargas canister near my car, filling it with smoke and causing temporary blindness. Panic ensued as journalists and protesters alike were chased by armed police. Injuries mounted, and reinforcements from Force Headquarters arrived with orders to disperse the crowd by any means necessary.
Among the chaos, notable activist Deji Adeyanju was missing. It was reported he refused to leave the stadium. Meanwhile, along Nyanya Road, another group of protesters faced severe suppression as they tried to join the main rally. Teargas, bayonets, burning tires, and vandalism ensued, turning the protest into a battlefield. Opportunistic youths set up roadblocks, extorting money from passersby.
A Grim Lesson
As I reached Orozo, it was clear that the day’s events had taken a severe toll. The violent suppression of the protest highlighted a grim reality: when the government predicts a protest will turn violent, it often ensures that it does. The challenge for social movements now is to find ways to prevent such outcomes and avoid falling into these traps.
The events of that day in Abuja serve as a stark reminder of the fragile line between peaceful protest and violent crackdown, raising critical questions about the future of civil dissent and the role of authorities in managing public unrest.
Seun Akioye, a development journalist lives in Abuja, Nigeria.
