Police in Rivers State Police Command today Monday morning fired teargas at protesters gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the capital city.
The same thing happened in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The situation was calm in Lagos, with police watching as the peaceful protest held.
PORT HARCOURT PROTEST
Police in Rivers State Police Command today Monday morning fired teargas at protesters gathered at the Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the capital city.
Journalists reporting the event were not spared the baton and kicks teargas the police brought into an event that organisers had promised would be a peaceful ventilation of grievances against the Federal Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Protesting members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ and allied civil society groups were greeted by heavy police presence when they gathered at the protest venue as early as 9am.
“Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the young demonstrators told the policemen who warned them not to hold the protest.
Policemen gave the protesters a hot chase and beat up some of them, including journalists reporting the event.
The protesters had earlier told the policemen that they had informed the police command of their intention to stage the demonstration in a letter dated April 3, 2025.
One of the protesters had told reporters that the “peaceful protest” was to express their grievances to the government: “We are not here for violence.”
According to notice circulated on social media, the demonstrator listed some of their grievances to include the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional. We are here to demand that our governor comes back to office and lead us appropriately. We have a social contract with the governor and not the sole administrator. This is democracy,” he said.
ABUJA PROTEST
Officers of the Nigeria Police Force dispersed protesters with tear gas in the Maitama area of Abuja.
The Abuja protesters, who had gathered on Monday, April 7, scattered in different directions as the teargas canisters were fired in their midst.
In Abuja, Omoyele Sowore, leader of the movement, and Deji Adeyanju, human rights lawyer, were seen leading the protest, resisting attempts of police officers to take them off the streets.
The protest is part of a nationwide demonstration spearheaded by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations.
The demonstrators carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe”.
The protests organised by the Take It Back Movement, are ongoing despite repeated warnings by the police.
LAGOS PROTEST
Protesters also took to the streets of Lagos.
They converged in Ikeja the capital in their thousands and marched through the streets.
