BREAKING: Tension in Abuja, Rivers as Police Clash with Take-It-Back Protesters, Video Trends
- Police dispersed protesters in Abuja’s Maitama with tear gas on April 7, as part of a nationwide demonstration by the Take-It-Back Movement and civil society groups
- Protesters voiced concerns over economic hardship, the misuse of the Cybercrime Act, and the state of emergency in Rivers State, with placards such as “Stop the Repression” displayed
- Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore joined the protest in solidarity, and while there were no reports of injuries or arrests, the situation remained tense at the time of reporting
FCT, Abuja - On Monday, April 7, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force used tear gas to disperse protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja, following a peaceful demonstration organised by the Take-It-Back Movement and several civil society groups.
The protest aimed to draw attention to various national concerns, including the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, the worsening economic hardship, and the current state of emergency in Rivers state.
Source: Twitter
As the tear gas was unleashed, protesters were thrown into disarray, with many scrambling to escape the fumes.
Demonstrators, some of whom were carrying placards bearing slogans such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” had marched through the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, voicing their discontent with the administration’s policies.
Sowore joins in solidarity
Prominent human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, was spotted at the protest ground, offering his solidarity to the demonstrators.
Sowore, a known advocate for human rights and governmental accountability, has previously led similar protests against the administration.
Protest goals and concerns raised
Source: Twitter
Juwon Sanyaolu, the national coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, stated in a release prior to the protest that the demonstration was to resist what he called “the increasing authoritarianism” of the current administration.
He added that the protest was also meant to highlight the urgent need for relief for Nigerians grappling with inflation and insecurity, issues that have worsened under the current economic climate.
No reports of injuries or arrests yet
As of the time of filing this report, there have been no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests, though the situation remains tense.
The authorities have not released an official statement regarding the use of force during the protest.
Take-It-Back protesters flee as police take action
More so, the #Take-It-Back protest in Port Harcourt turned violent when officers from the Rivers state Police Command used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
However, protesters were confronted by police officers who demanded they leave the area and relocate to a different venue.
Undeterred, the protesters, who were singing solidarity songs, continued their march from the park toward Aba Express Road.
As they reached the CFC junction, they were once again confronted by armed anti-riot officers, who ordered them to vacate the street.
When the protesters refused to comply, the police resorted to using tear gas canisters, causing the demonstrators to scatter in an attempt to escape the fumes.
See the video here:
Cybercrime Act still a tool for digital repression - Lawyer warns
A Lagos-based technology lawyer, Adeyemi Owoade, has expressed concern over the continued use of the Cybercrime Act to stifle dissent, despite a recent amendment to the law.
"The Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act was amended in 2024, following widespread concerns about its misuse to curtail free speech and target dissenting voices," Owoade provided details of the background to Legit.ng.
"Notably, Section 24(1) was revised to clarify and expand the scope of prohibited messages transmitted via computer systems or networks."
"Under the amendment, Paragraph (b) of section 24(1) was revised to criminalize the dissemination of false information specifically intended to cause a breakdown of law and order, threaten life, or facilitate the transmission of such harmful content."
While acknowledging that the revisions were meant to address real digital threats, Owoade noted that the language of the law "still leaves room for broad interpretation, especially in politically sensitive contexts like protests."
"The concern is that security agencies may continue to exploit the Act to suppress online expression and criminalize dissent, despite the intended safeguards in the amended provisions," he added.
The legal practitioner also linked his concern to Monday’s protests in Abuja and Rivers, describing them as troubling examples of how cybercrime laws could be misused to target online activism.
Owoade who said the case shows the need for clearer laws and restraint in enforcement, concluded that:
"Without those, even well-intended amendments can be turned into tools of digital repression.”
Protest erupts in Abuja over Benue judiciary crisis
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Abuja witnessed a significant demonstration as civil society organisations and concerned citizens took to the streets to protest the ongoing crisis in the Benue state judiciary.
The rally, organised by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, called for urgent intervention from the National Judicial Council (NJC), Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address what they described as a blatant abuse of judicial processes.
Editorial assistant Ololade Olatimehin provided exclusive commentary from a legal practitioner for this report.
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Source: Legit.ng
