Nigerian government agents attacked a number of citizens who took part in a cross over gathering to protest widespread poverty and rights abuses in Abuja, Peoples Gazette has learnt.

The police coordinated the attack shortly after midnight in Abuja’s Gudu neighbourhood, but at least one SSS officer was also involved, according to two security sources informed about the operation.

“They said they were sending four SSS officers to secretly monitor the protests with the police, but later on we heard that only one SSS officer was present when the chaos broke out,” an intelligence source told the Gazette in the wee hours of New Year’s Day.

Omoyele Sowore was amongst those taken into custody. His outlet Sahara Reporters said the activist was being held at Abattoir, a notorious police detention facility in Guzape.

Two other activists Juwon Sanyaolu and Adenola Damilare were also held according to those familiar with the unfolding situation. It was unclear what offences they had committed beyond exercising their fundamental rights to civil demonstration and assembly.

Hours earlier on Thursday evening, he had rallied Nigerians across the country to stage a protest into the new year against worsening corruption, poverty and rights abuses under the Buhari administration. It was unclear how many people took part in the protests, which held overnight in several cities from Kaduna to Ondo.

Police and SSS spokesperson did not immediately return a request seeking comments from the Gazette about the operation.

Mr. Sowore has been confined within Nigeria’s capital Abuja since he was released on bail in December 2019 after spending several months in custody on frivolous charges of sedition.