Men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have fired tear gas at protesters who joined the #FearlessInOctober protests against bad governance in Abuja on Tuesday morning.

According to Channels Television, protesters carrying the Nigerian flag during the protests had to scamper for safety.

FIJ learnt that the protesters were gathered in the Utako Market area of Abuja on Tuesday when the police used tear gas to disperse them.

An Abuja-based journalist told FIJ on Tuesday that a group of people gathered for the protests in Abuja were dispersed.

READ ALSO: #FearlessInOctober Kicks Off in Lagos, Protesters Demand Review of Economic Policies

“There is no protest in Abuja. A group of people were gathered and the police dispersed them,” he said.

In videos and pictures seen by FIJ, tear gas fumes filled the streets, and while some demonstrators fled, others remained.

_{CREDIT: News Central TV}

In one of the videos, the voice of a protester could be heard telling others not to move.

“They have started shooting us tear gas. They are trying to disperse us. Don’t move, comrades. Don’t move,” said a protester.

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Nigerians trooped to the streets of Lagos and Abuja for the start of the #FearlessInOctober protests, which coincided with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day.

The demands of the protesters include a reduction of food prices, the release of all #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protesters in detention, an end to state-backed repression of dissenting voices, free and compulsory education at primary and secondary levels, reduction of tertiary education fees, prosecution and the imprisonment of corrupt politicians.