In a dramatic confrontation, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force discharged tear gas at peaceful protesters gathered at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The protesters, comprising members of the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were demonstrating against the marginalisation of the territory’s indigenous communities and the nomination of Comrade Solomon Adodo to the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) board.
According to Comrade Zakari Gambo Babale, Secretary of the FCT Youth Stakeholders Forum and a protest leader, Adodo is not an indigene of the FCT but rather from Benue State, which already has four representatives on the commission. The protesters demanded Adodo’s withdrawal and replacement with an FCT indigene who understands the challenges the territory’s original inhabitants faced.
Also speaking during the protest, Pastor Danladi Jeji, president of the FCT Original Inhabitants, expressed deep concerns about the ongoing marginalisation of the territory’s original natives. Addressing the protesters, Jeji emphasised that Abuja must be recognised and treated as a state by 2027, with its state secretariat in Gwagwalada.
Jeji highlighted that the nine tribes constituting the original inhabitants of the FCT—Amwamwa, Bassa, Egbira, Gade, Ganagana, Gbagyi, Gbari, Gwandara, and Koro—have been neglected for far too long. He demanded prioritising their rights and interests, stressing the need for equitable representation and development in the territory.
The situation later turned chaotic when police deployed tear gas, affecting both protesters and journalists alike. Babale condemned the police action, stating that the protesters were peacefully awaiting the opportunity to present their grievances to the leadership of the National Assembly.
The protesters’ demands underscore the growing frustration among the FCT’s indigenous communities, who feel their voices are unheard. As the protest continues to attract attention, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to their demands.
The authorities at the National Assembly have yet to make a statement concerning the protest.
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