Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A Federal High Court in Abuja is now set to hear a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by a 26-year-old barber, Abraham Emmanuel, who claims he lost his left eye after being struck by a tear gas canister fired by police officers during a New Year’s Eve operation in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/256/2026, was filed against the Nigeria Police Force and the Divisional Police Officer of Bwari Division, CSP Babayola Muhammad Musa.
In his originating motion, the applicant is demanding ₦1 billion in damages, a written apology from the respondents, and a declaration that the use of tear gas in front of his father’s residence along Sabon Gari Road, Bwari, on 31 December 2025 was unlawful, illegal, null, and void. The suit, filed by his counsel, Anthony Idanosi Eruaga Esq., contends that Emmanuel committed no offence known to law before the incident that allegedly resulted in the permanent damage to his left eye.
According to the applicant’s sworn deposition, he was sitting in front of his house on the night of 31 December 2025, when police officers attached to the Bwari Division carried out what he described as a raid targeting churchgoers, fun seekers, and shop owners during crossover activities into the New Year. The operation allegedly involved the sporadic firing of tear gas and gunshots into the air, creating panic across the area. Emmanuel maintained that a tear gas canister fired during the operation struck him directly in the face, causing severe injury to his left eye.
The court filings further alleged that over 90 persons were arrested during the operation, and that the arrests and detentions were not carried out in accordance with procedures permitted by law. The applicant argued that the actions of the respondents violated his constitutional rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement as guaranteed under Sections 35, 41, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Articles 5, 6, and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The suit was brought pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.
A viral interview conducted by Ukeme TV captured the moment Emmanuel recounted the incident with visible distress. In the interview, he stated that after using insecticide in his room to kill mosquitoes, he stepped outside to let the fumes dissipate. While standing outside and using his phone, he was reportedly hit directly in the face by the tear gas projectile. He managed to reach a nearby clinic with the help of a friend and a local vigilante, where he received initial first aid and stitches. He was subsequently referred to Asokoro General Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Despite these medical efforts, his left eye was permanently lost.
The police operation that injured Emmanuel also drew the attention of a civil society organisation, Springs Aid Foundation. In a petition dated 6 January 2026, addressed to the FCT Commissioner of Police, the foundation alleged that the DPO personally led armed officers who fired live rounds and tear gas canisters into the air to disperse civilians, creating panic across the area. The foundation claimed that over 90 individuals, including churchgoers, business owners, and residents celebrating the New Year, were arrested during the operation. The petition also alleged that CSP Babayola turned the Bwari Police Station into a “marketplace for bail,” where detainees’ relatives were compelled to negotiate payments starting from N50,000 for their release.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the Bwari community. In the days following the operation, angry youths staged protests in Bwari, demanding the immediate removal and prosecution of the Divisional Police Officer. The protesters accused the DPO of being trigger-happy and abusing his office, alleging that he personally opened fire on residents on the night of 31 December 2025. They carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Justice for Abraham,” “End Police Brutality,” “DPO Musa Must Go,” and “Say No to Police Oppression in Bwari.” The demonstrators also alleged that another resident, identified as Tasiru, was hit by live ammunition during the same incident and was rushed to hospital, but later travelled to his hometown in Katsina State for further medical care. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may have died from complications arising from the gunshot wound.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the Nigeria Police Force has remained largely silent. The President of Springs Aid Foundation, Comrade Chima Kenneth Emeka, told journalists outside the court that the foundation had, from the inception of the matter, written several petitions to the Commissioner of Police, the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector‑General of Police, demanding action over the alleged abuses. “It is shocking that up till this moment, no action has been taken by the Nigerian Police Force. The continued silence of the Police over these serious allegations is deeply troubling,” he said.
When the case was mentioned before Justice Yilwa Hauwa Joseph, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to 25 September 2026 for the substantive hearing. Meanwhile, the applicant remains hopeful that the court will grant the reliefs sought, including the N1 billion damages, which he believes will serve as a deterrent to other officers who may resort to excessive force in the discharge of their duties. The Nigeria Police Force and the Bwari DPO are yet to file their responses to the suit, and the FCT Police Command has not issued any official statement regarding the allegations. As the matter heads to trial, the young barber from Sabon Gari, Bwari, continues to wait for justice with one good eye, hoping that the law will finally speak.
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