ABUJA — Security forces fired tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrators in Abuja on Monday, as protesters gathered in the Maitama district to demand government accountability on economic hardship, civil liberties, and what they described as the weaponization of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act.
The protest, led by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside other civil society groups, coincided with National Police Day celebrations at Eagle Square—an official event honoring the service of the Nigeria Police Force. Authorities had set up blockades around the heavily guarded Three Arms Zone, anticipating the arrival of high-ranking police officials.
Among the protesters was human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who joined dozens of demonstrators holding placards reading “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”
The protest aimed to draw national attention to what organizers described as a deteriorating human rights situation under the Tinubu administration. Speaking to reporters, Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, cited a litany of grievances: spiraling inflation, widespread insecurity, and the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“We are seeing a deepening of authoritarianism,” Sanyaolu said. “Economic hardship is rising, and the government’s response has been repression, not relief.”
Monday’s protest underscores growing public frustration over Nigeria’s faltering economy and an increasingly aggressive crackdown on dissent. The Cybercrime Act, originally passed to combat online fraud, has drawn criticism from rights groups who argue it is being used to silence journalists and activists.
As of the time of publication, no arrests or injuries had been confirmed.
