Breaking: Police Use Tear Gas To Disperse Peaceful Protesters In Abuja

Breaking: Police Use Tear Gas To Disperse Peaceful Protesters In Abuja

On Monday, Nigeria Police Force officers used tear gas to disperse peaceful protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja. The demonstration was organized to demand immediate government action in response to escalating economic challenges, increased repression, and perceived abuses of the Cybercrime Act….READ MORE…

The protest was part of a nationwide initiative spearheaded by the Take-It-Back Movement in partnership with various civil society organizations. It coincided with the National Police Day celebrations at Eagle Square.

In preparation for the official event, authorities established a security perimeter around the Three Arms Zone, where senior police officials were set to attend a ceremony honoring the Nigeria Police Force’s service.

Participants in the demonstration, which included human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, carried placards with slogans such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” highlighting what the organizers described as an increasing trend toward authoritarianism under the current government.

Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, articulated the key issues driving the protest, including rampant inflation, widespread insecurity, and what he referred to as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.

While the gathering began without incident, tensions escalated when police deployed tear gas canisters to break up the crowd, prompting protesters to flee the scene. As of this reporting, there have been no confirmed accounts of injuries or arrests.

The National Assembly complex, which was one of the planned destinations for the protesters, remained largely empty due to the ongoing legislative recess, with lawmakers scheduled to return on April 29.

Despite the police intervention, protest leaders maintained that the demonstration was both crucial and timely, emphasizing the urgent need for the government to confront the rising economic difficulties, insecurity, and perceived attempts to stifle dissent.