OPERATIVES of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Monday, April 7, fired teargas canisters at protesters in Portharcourt and Abuja, disrupting a demonstration organised by the Take It Back Movement.
The protesters had converged at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, around 9 am to demand the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and call for responsible leadership, but were met by a heavy deployment of police officers who insisted the protest would not hold, according to a Channels Television report.
In Abuja, the Punch reported that the FCT police dispersed protesters, who had gathered peacefully to express their grievances, with tear gas in the Maitama area of the Capital city.
The ICIR reported that the crackdown came barely 24 hours after the Nigeria Police Force issued a statement urging the group to shelve the planned protest, describing it as ‘ill-timed and mischievous.’
The police said the protest coincided with National Police Day, a newly declared holiday set aside by the federal government to honour police officers.
Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued on Sunday, April 6, had accused the organisers of attempting to “malign” the image of the police, warning that the demonstration could disrupt official activities attended by both local and international dignitaries.
The Police believed that holding protests on such a significant day could ‘malign the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole.’
“In line with best global practices adopted by nations in celebrating the achievements of their Police institution, the Nigerian government has taken the bull by the horns by declaring every April 7 as National Police Day.
“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is, however, questionable and perceived to be a deliberate attempt and unpatriotic act that is capable of rubbishing and maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole,” the statement added.
However, members of the Take It Back Movement, on Monday, proceeded with the protest in parts of the country.
In Lagos, the demonstrators could be seen (archived here) raising placards and banners that read ‘any law that forbids us from speaking out truths against oppression in Nigeria is no longer a law but shackles of slavery.’
In Ibadan, Oyo State, protesters marched through the streets with banners calling for ‘good governance and the total repeal of the Cybercrime Act.’
In the locations, according to the pictures and videos shared by the Movement on its X page, the protests have been peaceful without threat from the security operatives. The Take It Back Movement, a civic group known for its vocal criticism of government policies, had announced mass protests across several states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The demonstration, according to the group, is aimed at drawing attention to the ‘bad governance’ and shrinking civic space in Nigeria. According to one of the organisation’s announcements on social media, the “Cybercrime Act creates an environment of fear and censorship. We must #RepealCyberCrimeAct for a free Nigeria!”
The protest is the latest in a string of demonstrations against the Cybercrime Act, which activists say is being used to clamp down on free speech and press freedom.
Many Nigerians have argued that the law has become a tool for silencing dissenting voices, especially online.
This is not the first time the police have attempted to prevent citizens from exercising their right to protest. Over the years, security agencies have repeatedly warned against peaceful demonstrations, often citing ‘security concerns.’
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M