On Monday, Nigeria Police Force operatives used tear gas to disperse protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja.
The peaceful gathering, organized by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups, quickly descended into chaos as the tear gas sent many fleeing for cover.
The demonstration, part of a nationwide protest, sought to highlight various pressing national issues.
Among the key concerns were the alleged abuse of the Cybercrime Act, the worsening economic conditions, and what the organisers referred to as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
Protesters, including human rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, held placards with slogans such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” as they marched through the streets of the Federal Capital Territory.
Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, issued a statement last Friday calling the protest a stand against the “increasing authoritarianism” of the current government and a demand for immediate relief for Nigerians struggling with inflation and insecurity.