Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday fired tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja, as citizens took to the streets demanding urgent government action on rising economic hardship, repression, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act.
The demonstration, part of a nationwide protest organized by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside several civil society groups, coincided with the National Police Day celebrations at Eagle Square.
Security forces had blocked key access roads around the Three Arms Zone as top police officials gathered for a ceremony honoring the service of the Nigeria Police Force. Protesters, however, gathered nearby with placards bearing messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”
Prominent among them was human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who joined others in decrying what they described as an alarming rise in authoritarianism.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, highlighted key grievances, including soaring inflation, worsening insecurity, and what he called a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
Though the protest began peacefully, it turned chaotic after police operatives launched tear gas canisters into the crowd, forcing demonstrators to scatter. Tensions escalated as protesters fled the area. As of press time, there were no confirmed injuries or arrests.
The National Assembly complex, which protesters intended to visit, remained largely empty due to an ongoing legislative recess. Lawmakers are not expected to resume until April 29.
Despite the disruption, protest leaders maintained that the demonstration was timely and necessary. They called for immediate government intervention to ease economic burdens and safeguard democratic freedoms.
