Esther Salifu
Yesterday, police and protesters clashed in Abuja during a demonstration organized by the Take-It-Back Movement, opposing the CyberCrime Act and the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State by the Federal Government last month chanting solidarity songs and wielding placards bearing inscriptions such as “stop the repression” and “let us breathe,”
Leaders of the protest, including Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of Action Alliance (AA), and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, citing emergency rule in Rivers State as a key reason for the demonstration.
Despite efforts made by the police to halt their procession, a significant number of protesters gathered in Abuja early yesterday morning. They marched towards the National Assembly, only to find the complex empty due to the ongoing recess of lawmakers, who are set to resume on April 29.
The protest, led by the Take-It-Back Movement and various civil society organizations, coincided with Police Day celebrations at Eagles Square. Reports indicate that this coincidence heightened the police’s desperation to suppress the demonstration. As a result, a blockade was established around the Three Arms Zone, where senior police officials were anticipated to attend the celebrations.
