My people, e don happen again o! Our guy, Omoyele Sowore, wey dey fight for human rights, don shed light on wetin dey sup with Nigeria Police dem. E talk say di way dem dey use tear gas and kinetic projectiles for protests na serious wahala. This matter no be play at all! E dey call am serious threat to life.
For one statement wey e drop on Facebook, Sowore talk say di so-called ‘less-lethal’ methods wey police dey use no be as harmless as dem dey paint am. According to am, ‘di use of tear gas and kinetic impact projectiles dey cause wahala for public health and safety, and we suppose get rules wey go guide dem.’
Him talk say di tear gas, like CS or CN wey dem dey use, dey linked to eye injuries, skin wahala, and respiratory problems, especially for people wey no too strong. Na wetin dem call vulnerable groups. He talk say, ‘truth be say tear gas fit kill you.’ E no dey even joke with am o!
Sowore no stop there. E recount story for wey one young Nigerian for Abuja don lose him eyes because a DPO fire tear-gas projectile at him. Imagine that! E also bring our mind back to di sad story wey happen during di June 12, 1993 protest when one tear-gas canister land for baby crib wey cause wahala no be small. Na there di great Prof. Wole Soyinka even fall victim dat day.
Boom! Sowore don make we sabi say ‘during di ENDSARS remembrance for Lekki Toll Gate, e dey witness how police dey fire tear gas like say na joke. Plus, himself don collect close-range tear gas canister from female police officer wey injure am for him groin. Na wetin e call serious matter wey no suppose dey glossed over. E talk say na why e no dey agree when people dey describe tear gas as ‘non-lethal’. This matter eh, na serious level shey!
Medical research dey back wetin Sowore dey talk. One 2021 study wey dem do by Jennifer L. Brown and crew show say di people wey dey talk say tear gas dey safe no gree hear am. Dem explain say di chemical wey dey cause irritation to di eyes, nose, throat, and lungs dey cause inflammation and even damage. Chai! Wetin be all this na?
Sowore dey vex say dem dey use tear gas for policing and no strong scientific evidence dey for am. As protests dey burst for Nigeria—especially di one wey dey happen for Lagos against demolitions—dem still dey use this tear gas as if na normal thing. Lagos Police dey claim say dem no use firearms, but people still dey report injury from di tear gas.
Commissioner of Police Jimoh Olohundare talk say dem only dey use force to maintain order and protect those wey dey demonstrate peacefully. But my people, e no dey funny when dem dey make us suffer like this, abi wetin una think?
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