JUST IN: Tear Gas Fired at Peaceful Protest in Abuja, Activists Arrested

Security forces on Monday disrupted a peaceful protest in Abuja by firing tear gas at demonstrators demanding a review of the Cybercrime Act and relief from worsening economic conditions. The protest, which took place in the Federal Capital Territory, ended in chaos as protesters scattered, with several reportedly injured and at least two activists—Bosede Imanah and Flagboy—arrested at the scene.

Organised by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside other civil society groups, the protest was part of a nationwide demonstration against what participants described as growing authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and economic hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Protesters also raised concerns about the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which they referred to as a “state of emergency.”

Carrying placards with messages like “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” demonstrators gathered peacefully before security personnel intervened with tear gas, triggering a stampede. Witnesses, including reporters from SaharaReporters, noted that several people sustained injuries while trying to escape the scene.

Among those in attendance was human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who joined the protest in solidarity. The Take-It-Back Movement had earlier declared that there would be no retreat from the nationwide protest planned for April 7, insisting on the urgency of addressing government overreach, particularly the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act to stifle dissent.

The protest was held under the banner: “Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance and Suppression of Free Speech.”