Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore reportedly lost consciousness on Friday, June 12, 2026, during a Democracy Day protest in Abuja after security forces used teargas to break up the gathering.
Protest Turns Chaotic
The demonstration, part of a nationwide mass action organized by a coalition of civil society groups protesting worsening economic conditions and rising insecurity, descended into chaos when police arrived at the scene. Officers deployed teargas canisters and fired warning shots to scatter the crowd.
Sowore Collapses
Witnesses reported that Sowore collapsed amid thick clouds of teargas. Fellow protesters quickly gathered him and rushed him away in a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.
Police Warnings and Barricades
The police action followed warnings from the Federal Capital Territory Command against protests near sensitive government sites. Early Friday morning, security forces barricaded key locations including Unity Fountain, Eagle Square, and roads leading to the Three Arms Zone.
Sowore's current health status remains unknown at the time of this report.
