MOTiON Condemns Violent Attack on Protesters in Abuja

…Calls on Government, Judiciary and Security Agencies to Stop Weaponising Citizen Dissent

By: Michael Mike

The Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTiON) has expressed outrage at what it termed brutal suppression of peaceful free Nnamdi Kanu protesters in Abuja.

The group in a statement on Tuesday, alleged that citizens exercising their constitutional right to dissent were shot at, tear-gassed, chased and arrested, in a chilling display of state hostility toward free expression.

In a statement jointly signed by its Convener, Hauwa Mustapha, and Co-Convener, Chris Isiguzo; the group said eyewitnesses and media reports confirm that security agents deployed heavy-handed tactics to crush a lawful assembly instead of protecting the rights of Nigerians.

The group said security agencies must be reminded that when citizens take to the streets to demand justice, reform, accountability or welfare, their duty is to safeguard and not silence them, stressing that only a few weeks ago, protesters demanding improved welfare for police and retired officers were not treated as adversaries because their demands favoured the same security institutions. Yet this week, citizens voicing dissent against perceived injustice were met with force and contempt. This double standard exposes a dangerous politicisation of the right to protest.

MOTiON asserted that the courts and government must stop framing citizen protests as illegitimate attempts to destabilise the state, insisting that such narratives embolden repression, obstruct reform dialogue, and erode democratic confidence.

It stated that judiciary must refuse to rubber-stamp blanket bans on assembly, and the executive must refrain from treating civic space as a political battleground.

The group said: “We further call on lawmakers to rise above partisan silence and defend the sanctity of citizens’ constitutional freedoms. They must use its oversight powers to ensure that: A public guarantee is issued that peaceful assemblies will never again be treated as criminal acts; All court injunctions restricting protests are reviewed to prevent their misuse as tools of intimidation under the guise of “security”; and Security agencies adopt and enforce a human-rights-compliant protest management protocol, and the Nigeria Police must commit to protecting citizens during protests, and ensure Nigerians are never treated as enemies simply for raising their voices.”

MOTiON said it stands in unwavering solidarity with all Nigerians exercising their right to peaceful protest, whether they are workers, students, retirees, or ordinary citizens. “We will not stay silent while legitimate dissent is criminalised and voices for justice are violently silenced.”

MOTiON is a collective force of Nigerians from mass democratic organisations, workers’ organisations, pro-democracy movements, movements for social justice, women groups, citizens groups, NGOs, academia, students and youth groups, and climate action groups.

According to it, it is a movement of movements channeling shared anger, frustration and aspirations of Nigerians into purposeful action. Through concerted, strategic effort, engaging in citizens’ actions to address and overcome the root causes of Nigeria’s current state: elite capture, ineffective leadership, institutional corruption, insecurity, and the pervasive culture of impunity.

MOTiON Condemns Violent Attack on Protesters in Abuja

Hunter mistakenly kills woman he mistook for a monkey in Boki forest

By: Zagazola Makama

A hunter in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing a woman he mistook for a monkey while hunting in a forest.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred on Monday at Basam Osokom community, when the hunter, identified as Otu Goodness Kanang, reportedly fired at what he believed to be a monkey perched on a tree.

According to the sources, Kanang said he heard a human cry after taking the shot and later discovered that he had mistakenly hit a woman identified as Victoria, whose other names were yet to be ascertained.

Detectives visited the scene, and with the help of community youths, evacuated the body to the residence of a local chief in Bansam for further action.

The suspect has been taken into custody as investigation into the incident continues.

Police said normalcy has been restored to the area and the Command remains calm.Hunter mistakenly kills woman he mistook for a monkey in Boki forest

By: Zagazola Makama

A hunter in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing a woman he mistook for a monkey while hunting in a forest.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred on Monday at Basam Osokom community, when the hunter, identified as Otu Goodness Kanang, reportedly fired at what he believed to be a monkey perched on a tree.

According to the sources, Kanang said he heard a human cry after taking the shot and later discovered that he had mistakenly hit a woman identified as Victoria, whose other names were yet to be ascertained.

Detectives visited the scene, and with the help of community youths, evacuated the body to the residence of a local chief in Bansam for further action.

The suspect has been taken into custody as investigation into the incident continues.

Police said normalcy has been restored to the area and the Command remains calm.

Hunter mistakenly kills woman he mistook for a monkey in Boki forest

Nationwide #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest: Minimal turnout as citizens cite court proceedings, business disruption fears, and past violence

By: Zagazola Makama

The nationwide protest calling for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, organized by activist Omoyele Sowore, recorded minimal participation on Monday, with citizens across Nigeria largely complying with security directives, Zagazola report.

Law enforcement authorities attribute the low turnout to public recognition that the matter is currently in court, widespread fears of potential disruption to businesses, and lingering resentment over past violent incidents linked to the sit-at-home orders enforced by IPOB and its paramilitary wing, ESN.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), joint security operatives maintained heightened presence at government buildings, critical infrastructures, and other vulnerable points from early morning. Stop-and-search operations and patrols were intensified around restricted zones, including Eagle Square and the Presidential Villa. The court has also restricted protest activities at some strategic locations within the city.

Omoyele Sowore and a small group of protesters attempting to march towards the Villa were intercepted by security operatives. Four individuals were arrested after resisting dispersal, but no violent clashes were reported. For about an hour vehicular movement was restricted in some part of the city due to fear of violence.

Public sentiment in Abuja indicated that many residents deliberately stayed indoors. A market trader in Wuse, John Uche, stated, “People refused to come out because the matter is in court. We do not want to be used to cause violence or to attract arrest. Our businesses are our livelihood, and we cannot risk them for a protest that may escalate.” Another resident added, “We also remember the losses from the IPOB sit-at-home orders. Thousands died during that period and many more are still being killed for nothing. We cannot risk repeating history.”

In the North Central region, Niger and Kogi States reported full compliance with security directives. In Niger State, no protests took place. Security forces maintained close surveillance of border and remote communities to prevent opportunistic attacks disguised as protest activity. Citizens interviewed in Minna confirmed a general unwillingness to participate. A civil servant, Chukwu Emeka Silas said, “We do not want trouble. The courts are handling the matter, and we trust the legal process more than street demonstrations.” In Kogi, similar sentiments were expressed by residents, with traders emphasizing fears that protests could disrupt their daily earnings.

In the North East, Borno and Yobe States remained calm, with security agencies focused on internal patrols and counter-insurgency operations. A resident in Maiduguri noted, “We cannot risk venturing into protests while Boko Haram and bandits are still a threat. Safety of lives comes first.”

In the North West, states including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and Jigawa reported no protest activity. Citizens interviewed highlighted a mix of legal caution and memories of past unrest during IPOB sit-at-home orders as primary reasons for staying indoors. “The last time there was a protest like this, (ENDSARS) businesses were destroyed and people killed,” said a community leader in Sokoto.

In the South West, Lagos State reported only a lone man attempting a solidarity walk, which was quickly dispersed. Residents cited fear of arbitrary arrests and possible hijacking of the protest by violent groups. In Ogun, Oyo, and Ondo States, authorities confirmed calm, with traders and commuters indicating that they had chosen to focus on work rather than risk being involved in demonstrations.

In the South-South and South-East, including Rivers, Bayelsa, Edo, Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Anambra, and Abia States, law enforcement reported minimal or no protest participation. In Imo State, security agencies carried out joint patrols in all major towns, including Orlu and Owerri, with residents praising the proactive measures. A resident of Owerri said, “We stayed home because Nnamdi Kanu’s directives in the past caused deaths and chaos. We don’t want to relive those days.” Similarly, in Anambra and Abia, only a few youths were briefly sighted holding banners, who voluntarily dispersed without incident.

In the South-East, states such as Ebonyi and Enugu, and the South-South including Delta and Akwa Ibom, reported zero participation in the protest. Citizens expressed concern that protests could provide opportunities for criminal elements to hijack public spaces. “We cannot trust that protests would remain peaceful,” a market association leader in Uyo remarked.

Across the country, police and security agencies commended citizens for their adherence to lawful directives, noting that the minimal turnout reflected public trust in the judicial process and general weariness of disruptions caused by past sit-at-home orders. The nationwide security approach, involving early intelligence, proactive patrols, and coordinated inter-agency operations, successfully prevented the protest from escalating.

Authorities reiterated that future demonstrations must be conducted strictly within legal frameworks to avoid confrontation, emphasizing that citizens’ rights to lawful protest are recognized, but security and public order remain paramount.

Nationwide #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest: Minimal turnout as citizens cite court proceedings, business disruption fears, and past violence