Police Disperse Protesters with Tear Gas in Abuja Amid Rising Tensions

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force dispersed a group of protesters with tear gas on Monday in the Maitama area of Abuja, the nation’s capital, as tensions flared during a peaceful demonstration. The incident, which unfolded earlier today, saw demonstrators scatter for safety after police deployed tear gas canisters to break up the gathering.

The protest, organized by the Take-It-Back Movement alongside other civil society organizations, was part of a broader nationwide call to address pressing national issues. Protesters had assembled to voice their grievances over the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, escalating economic hardship, and what organizers described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State. The demonstration began peacefully, with participants intent on drawing attention to these concerns, but the situation quickly escalated when security forces intervened.

Eyewitnesses reported that the tear gas deployment sent many fleeing in disarray, disrupting the orderly protest. Images from the scene captured chaotic moments as demonstrators, some carrying placards demanding a review of the Cybercrime Act and relief from economic struggles, scrambled to escape the stinging fumes. The heavy-handed response has sparked renewed debate over the right to peaceful assembly in Nigeria, a constitutionally guaranteed freedom that critics argue is increasingly under threat.

The Take-It-Back Movement, a prominent voice in Nigeria’s civil activism space, has been at the forefront of mobilizing citizens to demand accountability and reform. Monday’s protest in Abuja was one of several planned actions across the country, reflecting growing public frustration with governance and economic conditions. The specific mention of Rivers State’s “state of emergency” points to ongoing political tensions in the region, which protesters claim have broader implications for national stability.

Police authorities have yet to issue an official statement explaining the decision to use tear gas, though such tactics have become a recurring feature of protest management in Nigeria. The incident in Maitama follows a pattern seen in previous demonstrations, where security forces have been accused of employing excessive force to quell dissent.

As of now, it remains unclear whether any arrests were made or if injuries were sustained during the dispersal. However, the event underscores the fragile balance between maintaining public order and respecting citizens’ rights to express discontent. For many Nigerians, the sight of tear gas clouds rising over Abuja is a stark reminder of the challenges facing the nation’s democracy.