On Monday, the Nigeria Police Force deployed tear gas to disperse protesters in the Maitama area of Abuja, causing confusion and panic among demonstrators.
The protest, organized by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups, was part of a series of nationwide protests addressing critical issues affecting the country.
Initially peaceful, the demonstration quickly turned chaotic after police issued orders for the protesters to leave and began using tear gas to break up the gathering.
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Many demonstrators fled for cover as the situation escalated.
The protesters, including rights advocate and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, held signs that read “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”
They marched through the streets of the Federal Capital Territory to draw attention to what they called “worsening economic hardship” and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act. They also highlighted concerns over the state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a statement released ahead of the protest, Juwon Sanyaolu, National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, described the protest as a stand against increasing authoritarianism and a demand for relief for Nigerians struggling with inflation and insecurity.