Protesters under the banner of the Take-It-Back Movement and allied civil society groups were forcefully dispersed on Monday in Abuja, as police operatives fired tear gas to break up a peaceful demonstration in the Maitama district of the capital.
According to The PUNCH, the protest, which started earlier in the day, was part of a coordinated national action aimed at drawing attention to rising economic hardship, alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act, and what organisers described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
The demonstrators, holding placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” marched through major streets in the Federal Capital Territory before they were confronted by police operatives. Tear gas canisters were fired, sending the crowd fleeing in different directions.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic. “People were just running in all directions, choking from the gas. We were not violent. We just wanted to be heard,” said Halima Musa, one of the protesters.
Human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was among those present to lend support to the demonstration.
Speaking at the protest, Sowore said, “The Nigerian people are tired of suffering in silence. The use of force to silence peaceful protesters only exposes the desperation of the government.”
Last week, Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, issued a statement explaining the purpose of the protest.
“We are taking to the streets to push back against growing authoritarianism, worsening inflation, and insecurity. Nigerians are suffocating under this administration, and we can no longer keep quiet,” Sanyaolu stated.
Although no injuries or arrests were confirmed as of press time, the atmosphere in the area remained tense, with a visible police presence.
