Protest: Methods To Minimise The Effect Of Teargas – Experts

In the tussle of citizens expressing their rights to peaceful protest and security agencies living up to their duties of ensuring public order, experts have said kerosene, sprite drink and urine can reduce effect of tear gas on peaceful protesters.

Nigerians on August 1 poured out on the streets across the country in protest against the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu. The protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, saw aggrieved Nigerians demand the return of the petrol subsidy, cutting the cost of governance, addressing high prices of food and excruciating economic hardship.

Days to the hunger protest, the federal government through political, religious and traditional leaders tried to persuade the citizens against flooding the street, citizens, however, did not yield.

When persuasion failed, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu‘s Lagos State government and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, approached the Court for an order restricting protesters to a particular location.

While Governor Sanwo-Olu secured an order for Lagos protesters to be confined to Gani Fawehinmi Park, Wike secured an order for Abuja protesters to be confined to Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

As the protest recorded success on the first day August 1 and the second day August 2, police applied the use of force and tear gas to crack down on the protesters, particularly in Abuja, Kano, Katsina and Niger State.

According to Amnesty International (AI), security agencies used lethal force and teargas on peaceful protesters leading to injuries and death. AI added that over 1000 protesters were remanded by Nigeria authority.

“The Nigerian authorities must hold to account security personnel suspected for the unlawful use of lethal force on peaceful hunger protesters, leading to deaths and severe injuries, in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Suleja, FCT and other places.

“Instead of addressing people’s concern on the economy, the Nigerian authorities embarked on crackdown. So far, over 1000 people have been remanded over the protest against hunger. At least 632 protesters have been remanded in Kano, while over 109 were remanded in Sokoto prison,” AI disclosed on its X handle.

Also, Naija News reported that FCT Senator, Ireti Kingibe, said the protest in Abuja was peaceful until police and security agencies applied force, including the use of teargas on the protesters.

“I am deeply concerned about the excessive use of force by the police and other security agencies against peaceful protesters.

“Such actions are counterproductive and do not contribute to resolving the issues at hand.

“It is imperative that the federal government adopts a more empathetic and dialogue-driven approach to sensitive matters.

“The demands of the protesters, including a call for a corruption-free fuel subsidy and improved leadership, among others, are both urgent and important,” Ireti stated on August 11.

Aside from protesters, journalists, including Daily Independent, Premium Times, News Central and African Independent Television (AIT), were victims of police use of tear gas.

Nigeria Police spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi and FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, refuted that security agencies used lethal weapons.

Neither Adejobi nor Adeh denied police personnel used tear gas on peaceful protesters.

Nigerians are regrouping for what they described as “fearless” protest in October. Chances remain security agencies will use teargas against the protesters, a Nigeria Army officer, told our reporter in anonymity. “There is no way security agencies will allow break down of law and order,” he said.

A medical doctor at Wuse General Hospital Abuja, who prefers only to be identified as Dr Hyginus, told our reporter that protesters can reduce the effect of tear gas by washing their faces with kerosene and a brand of soft drink called Sprite.

Speaking on health challenges tear gas can expose protesters, Dr Hyginus said, “The smoke in tear gas is harmful. The smoke can cause cancer in the system. The smoke is very dangerous. If you watch an asthmatic patient doesn’t involve himself in a smoke.

“Once you are an asthmatic patient, you cannot use smoke. You cannot be where there is smoke. You will be choked up. And asthmatic patient cannot be where they throw teargas.”

Mr Hyginus explained that to stop the tear gas effect on the eyes and in the face, protesters should leave the environment immediately and wash it off.

“Let’s assume they throw tear gas here and you see where they are selling kerosene, you can use kerosene and wash your face and tear gas will disappear from your face. If you see where they are selling ‘mineral’ (local word for soft drink or soda drink), you can use Sprite and wash your face and teargas will disappear,” he told our reporter.

Also, a police officer, who prefers to be identified as Peter confirmed to our reporter that policemen use kerosene, sprite drink or urine to stop the effect of tear gas.

Peter said the use of tear gas in the last hunger protest was based on an order from the Presidency. He admitted to police brutality. He, however, explained that the officers dispersing protesters were acting on instruction and not hatred for the protesters.

He said, “The IGP warned protesters against the protest based on instructions from the ogas at the top. Remember that Police brutality is everywhere but Naija (local word for Nigeria) own worse.

“There is freedom to peaceful assembly but should there be a perception of potential threat to life, and property, then the use of deterrent measures such as use of teargas and pepper spray are allowed. Remember that our men were acting on instructions.”

When our reporter asked him about kerosene and Sprite stopping the action of teargas, he said, “It is true, and funny enough urine.”