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 organized 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.
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
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.
See the video here:
Protest erupts in Abuja over Benue judiciary crisis
Previously, Legit.ng reported that Abuja witnessed a significant demonstration as civil society organizations and concerned citizens took to the streets to protest the ongoing crisis in the Benue state judiciary.
The rally, organized 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.
