- Take-It-Back Movement- Abuja
- #APRIL7PROTEST: NATIONAL POLICE DAY CEREMONY
- Take-It-Back Movement- Port Harcourt
Police officers in Abuja’s Maitama District, as well as in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, used tear gas to disperse the #April7Protest demonstrators demanding urgent government action on worsening economic conditions, increasing repression, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act by security forces.
Take-It-Back Movement- Abuja
The nationwide protests, spearheaded by the Take-It-Back Movement in collaboration with civil society organizations, coincided with the National Police Day celebrations held at Eagle Square in Abuja.
According to the Force, April 7 has been designated by the Federal Government as National Police Day — a day to honor the resilience and dedication of Nigerian police officers. Authorities claimed the protesters’ decision to demonstrate on the same day carried “ulterior motives.”
ALSO READ: ‘We Take It Back’: April 7 Protests Shake Nigeria’s Streets
#APRIL7PROTEST: NATIONAL POLICE DAY CEREMONY
As part of heightened security for the event, a barricade was set up around the Three Arms Zone, where top police officials were scheduled to attend the ceremony celebrating the Nigeria Police Force.
Protesters, including human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, held placards with slogans like “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe,” calling attention to what organizers described as a growing wave of authoritarianism under the current administration.
Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, who led the mobilization, outlined the main grievances behind the protest — including spiraling inflation, nationwide insecurity, and the declaration of a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.
While the demonstration began peacefully, chaos erupted when police operatives launched tear gas into the crowd, prompting protesters to flee as tensions escalated.
ALSO READ: #April7Protest: What You Need to Know
As of the time this report was filed, there were no confirmed reports of injuries or arrests.
One of the protesters’ intended destinations — the National Assembly complex — remained empty due to the ongoing legislative recess. Lawmakers are expected to reconvene on April 29.
Despite the disruption, protest leaders maintained that the demonstration was both necessary and timely, stressing the urgent need for the government to address deepening economic hardship, insecurity, and what they perceive as deliberate attempts to stifle dissent.
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Take-It-Back Movement- Port Harcourt
In Port Harcourt, officers from the Rivers State Police Command also fired tear gas at demonstrators who had gathered peacefully to protest what they described as poor governance.
Under the banner of the Take-It-Back Movement, participants condemned the federal government’s policies, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, and the alleged weaponization of the Cybercrime Act to target activists, journalists, and social media influencers.
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Speaking to journalists after the crackdown, Amaye King Amaye, the Rivers State leader of the Take-It-Back Movement, vowed that the protests would continue, asserting the group’s commitment to amplifying the voices of the Rivers people.
He said the demonstration also aimed to oppose the federal government’s anti-people policies and to call for the reinstatement of the democratically elected governor of Rivers State.
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