The police and protesters clashed in Abuja and Port Harcourt yesterday during the protest declared by the Take-It-Back Movement against the CyberCrime Act and the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State last month by the Federal Government, which resulted in the suspension of democratic structures in the state.

The protest in Lagos, Osun and some parts of the country was, however, devoid of any clash between both parties.
It will be recalled that Force Headquarters had warned against the protest on Sunday, saying it is ill-timed but organisers insisted the protest must hold to compel the government to stop bullying citizens with the Cybercrime Act and also reverse the suspension of democratic structures in Rivers State.

The protesters in Abuja turned out in their numbers in the early hours of yesterday, despite efforts ma
de by the Police to stop their procession.

The protesters also marched to the National Assembly where they met an empty complex, due to the ongoing recess of lawmakers, who were scheduled to resume on 29 April.

The protest, led by the Take-It-Back Movement and several civil society organisations, coincided with Police Day celebrations at Eagles Square, and this, it was learned, increased the desperation of the police to stop it,
Consequently, a blockade was placed around the Three Arms Zone where senior police officials were expected to attend the ceremony.

Chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards bearing inscriptions such as “stop the repression” and “let us breathe,” drawing attention to what organisers described as a growing wave of authoritarianism under the current administration, the police moved in, firing tear-gas at protesters who dispersed in different directions.

Although the protest began peacefully, it soon degenerated into chaos when police operatives fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
Many demonstrators were seen fleeing the scene, as the atmosphere remained charged.

At the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests.

Despite this, protest leaders maintained that the demonstration is necessary to draw attention to the daily hardship faced by Nigerians, particularly in light of rising inflation, persistent insecurity, and perceived government repression.

Some of the leaders of the protest, including the presidential candidate of Action Alliance, AA, in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, also identified emergency rule in Rivers as one of the reasons for the protest.

Contacted, Police authorities in Abuja declined comments on the protest.
Police tear gas protesters in Rivers, arrest Channels TV correspondent

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force also attacked protesters with tear gas cannisters, around Mile 1 flyover area and CFC bus stop, as they had barely commenced the procession.

The protesters had gathered and took off from Isaac Boro Park but met police resistance at the flyover.

It was gathered that before the policemen started firing tear gas, they had asked the protesters to vacate the venue and shun the protest.

Vanguard gathered that despite this, the protest continued, only for the protesters to meet another team of policemen at CFC junction.

The operatives in the process, arrested Charles Opurum, a correspondent of Channels Television, who was later released.

The journalist, who was covering the procession, was arrested around CFC bus stop.

The Take-it-Back Movement Coordinator in Rivers State, Amanye King, said: “We are here as an organisation affiliated with other organizations to march and express our grievances. We are not here to cause any harm and security agents are here dispersing our people.

“We want the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, and as Rivers people, we are here to speak against the unconstitutional removal of our elected governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly. We are here to demand a government for the people of Rivers State because as it stands now, we do not have a government.

“This government is alien to our people, unconstitutional and we are here to demand that our governor is returned.

“We have a social contract with the governor and not with the sole administrator. This is democracy, we are here to march against these issues.”

Also, Coordinator of the Coalition of the Rivers State Civil Society, Solomon Lenu, said: “It is important for Rivers people to understand that what is happening in Nigeria is a rape on democracy because there is no reason whatsoever an elected government will be suspended for no just cause. We are in a democracy, not in a dictatorship system.

According to eye-witnesses, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, initially instructed the protesters to relocate to the federal secretariat along Aba Road, designating it as a safer venue.

However, as the protesters approached the CFC roundabout, police officers providing security were suddenly blocked by another team and instructed the demonstrators to disperse and began firing tear gas canisters.
The protesters, insisting on continuing the demonstration, were met with increasing intensity of tear gas, forcing them to flee and disperse.

The eyewitnesses said: “They were there and the DPO came and addressed them and told them to leave for Isaac Boro Park, where the protest was scheduled to hold initially and move to federal secretariat along Aba Road, which was designated for the protest.

“So while they were about going to the federal secretariat, the same police officers that were actually providing security double crossed us. We saw several security vehicles double-cross us and asked their colleagues to go back, that we can not continue the protest.

“So at that point, the protesters insisted that the protest will go on, that they had given them the Aba Road venue to gather and carry out their protest.

“The police were adamant, saying it is no longer safe for the protest to continue and asked the protesters to disperse. From behind, the police started firing canisters of tear gas at the protesters.

“The intensity of the tear gas increased and the protesters could not bear it because it was choking and they all fled.

‘’Even military personnel were part of the team, about 15 security patrol vehicles chasing people all around.’’


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