Police appropriate April 7 as own day of celebration, protesters insist agitation timely and necessary
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police in Abuja on Monday used tear gas to disperse unarmed youths protesting against economic hardship, the rising cost of living, and bad governance as well repression through the Cybercrime Act.
The nationwide protest organised by the Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) and other civil society organisations (CSOs) coincided with the National Police Day celebration at Eagle Square in Abuja.
Police had cautioned against the protest across states and especially in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressing that April 7 is earmarked by the federal government as National Police Day to celebrate the resilience and dedication of officers and men.
The authorities blockaded the Three Arms Zone where senior officers were expected to attend the ceremony honouring police personnel.
Protesters, including human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, carried placards with messages such as “Stop the Repression,” and “Let Us Breathe” to draw attention to what they described as authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu.
TIB National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, who led the march, outlined the key issues fueling the protest, listing among them, soaring inflation, nationwide insecurity, and a “state of emergency” in Rivers.
The protest began peacefully but descended into chaos when police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd, forcing the marchers to flee with tensions running high.
The National Assembly (NASS) complex, one of the protesters’ intended destinations, was deserted because the legislature is on recess. Lawmakers are scheduled to resume on April 29.
Despite the disruption, protest leaders insisted that the demonstration was necessary and timely, stressing the urgent need for government action to address rising economic hardship, insecurity, and schemes to silence dissent.
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