JUST IN: Police Disperse Take-It-Back Movement Protesters With Tear Gas in Abuja, Rivers

Personnels of the Nigeria Police Force has on Monday dispersed demonstrators in Abuja’s Maitama district with tear gas canisters.

The protest, led by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside other civil society organisations, was part of a coordinated nationwide action aimed at drawing attention to several urgent national concerns.

The demonstration, which began peacefully, turned chaotic after police officers reportedly fired tear gas to disband the crowd. Protesters were seen running for safety as the atmosphere became tense.

Participants marched through the Federal Capital Territory with placards bearing messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.” Among them was human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.

The group voiced discontent over worsening economic conditions, alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, and what they described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.

Take-It-Back Movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, had earlier issued a statement describing the protest as a response to “growing authoritarianism” and a call for immediate measures to address inflation, insecurity, and other national challenges.

In the same development, protesters at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was met with a strong police response. 

Officers from the Rivers State Police Command arrived at the scene in large numbers and used teargas to disperse the demonstrators.

The protest began around 9 a.m., with participants asserting their right to peaceful assembly despite warnings from security personnel. 

“We are Rivers people. No one can dictate where we can or cannot gather,” some protesters reportedly said while defying police orders.

The confrontation between law enforcement and the demonstrators created a tense atmosphere in the area, although there were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. 

The reasons behind the protest have been linked to the Cybercrime Act bill proposed by the federal government. However, the forceful dispersal highlights ongoing friction between civil groups and authorities over the right to peaceful protest in the country.