By Uzair Adam
Security operatives on Monday fired tear gas at peaceful demonstrators in the Maitama area of Abuja as citizens took to the streets demanding urgent government intervention on rising economic hardship.
The protest, organised by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside several civil society groups, coincided with the National Police Day celebrations at Eagle Square.
Authorities had cordoned off parts of the Three Arms Zone where high-ranking police officers gathered for the official event.
Participants, including human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, carried placards reading “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” in protest of what they described as growing authoritarianism in the country.
Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, highlighted worsening inflation, insecurity, and a “state of emergency” in Rivers State as key motivations for the protest.
Though the march started peacefully, tensions escalated after police operatives deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd, prompting protesters to flee in different directions.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed casualties or arrests.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly complex, one of the protest’s intended destinations, remained largely empty due to the ongoing legislative recess.
Lawmakers are expected to resume on April 29.
Despite the disruption, organisers maintained that the protest was both lawful and timely, reiterating their call for immediate government action to address the nation’s deepening economic and security crises.