Police officers in Abuja‘s Maitama District, Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, used teargas to disperse protesters advocating for urgent government action on deteriorating economic conditions, increasing repression, and alleged abuses of the Cybercrime Act by the Police.
The nationwide protests organised by the Take-It-Back Movement and civil society groups coincided with the National Police Day celebrations at Eagle Square in Abuja.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the Police authorities cautioned against the protests across various States of the Federation, especially the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Force stressed that April 7 is a day earmarked by the Federal Government as National Police Day to celebrate the resilience and dedication of Nigeria‘s police officers and men.
They noted that the choice of the same day for protests by the group was pregnant with ulterior motives.
As part of the security arrangements for the official event, authorities placed a blockade around the Three Arms Zone, where top police officials were expected to attend the ceremony honouring the service of the Nigeria Police Force.
Protesters, including human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, carried placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” aimed at drawing attention to what the organisers described as a growing wave of authoritarianism under the current administration.
The National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, who led the mobilisation, outlined the key issues fueling the protest, including soaring inflation, nationwide insecurity, and a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
Although the protest began peacefully, it descended into chaos when police operatives deployed tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
Protesters were seen fleeing the area, with tensions running high.
There were no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests when this report was filed.
The National Assembly complex, one of the protesters’ intended destinations — remained deserted due to the ongoing legislative recess. Lawmakers are scheduled to resume on April 29.
Despite the disruption, protest leaders insisted that the demonstration was necessary and timely, stressing the urgent need for government action to address rising economic hardship, insecurity, and perceived efforts to silence dissent.
Men of the Rivers State Police Command have fired tear-gas canisters at protesters who had staged a peaceful protest against bad governance in the country.
Under the aegis of the ‚Take It Back‘ Movement, the protesters were also protesting the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the Nigerian police‘s alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act.
They had accused the Police of allegedly using the Cybercrime Act to target the country‘s activists, journalists, and social media influencers.
LEADERSHIP observed that trouble started when the policemen stationed their vehicles in front of Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, ordered the protesters to disperse. However, the protesters vehemently refused to leave, insisting that it was their constitutional right to stage a peaceful protest.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, Amaye King Amaye, leader of the ‚Take It Back‘ movement in Rivers State, said they will still gather to ensure Rivers people‘s voices are heard.
Amaye said they are staging the protest over the anti-people‘s policies by the federal government and to reinstall the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State.
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