The Integrity Youth Alliance has strongly condemned the false and misleading statements made by the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Omoyele Sowore, accusing Nigerian security operatives of launching an unprovoked attack and shooting live bullets at the #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters in Abuja.
In a statement released by its spokesperson, Danjuma Lamido, on Monday, the group described Sowore’s claims as a deliberate attempt to incite the public against the nation’s security institutions and distort the truth about the incident.
According to Lamido, contrary to Sowore’s fabricated report that security forces opened fire at protesters shortly after the protest began in front of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, there was no single casualty or evidence of live ammunition being used during the demonstration.
“The truth is that law enforcement agencies acted within their constitutional mandate to maintain order and prevent a breakdown of law and order. The use of tear gas to disperse unruly crowds is a standard crowd-control measure globally and is still permitted for domestic riot control,” Lamido stated.
The group also debunked the false narrative being circulated by Sahara Reporters, alleging that a combined team of soldiers and police officers fired tear gas at a crowd near the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Utako. Lamido clarified that there was no official report or confirmation from the NUJ to support such a claim, describing it as another example of Sahara Reporters’ pattern of misinformation.
The Integrity Youth Alliance further reminded the public that in August 2025, the Federal High Court dismissed Nnamdi Kanu’s no-case submission, thereby paving the way for him to continue facing terrorism-related charges.
On the issue of Kanu’s health, Lamido noted that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) had confirmed that the detained IPOB leader’s illness was not life-threatening, and therefore, the call for his immediate release on medical grounds lacks merit.
“We call on Mr Sowore to allow the Federal High Court to perform its constitutional duties without undue interference or attempts to whip up public sentiments,” the statement added.
“Nigeria’s judiciary remains independent, and no amount of blackmail or falsehood will derail the ongoing judicial process.”
The Integrity Youth Alliance reaffirmed its confidence in the professionalism of the Nigerian security agencies and urged citizens to ignore politically motivated narratives designed to destabilise national peace and order.
