On Monday morning, officers of the Rivers State Police Command fired teargas at demonstrators who gathered at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the state capital, as part of a nationwide protest organized by the Take It Back Movement.
Despite arriving at the venue around 9am for what they described as a peaceful demonstration, the protesters were met with a heavy police presence. Tensions quickly escalated when officers ordered the group to disperse, warning them against holding the protest.
“We are Rivers people — nobody can tell us where not to gather,” some protesters declared as they stood their ground. However, the police responded with force, chasing the demonstrators through the park and reportedly assaulting several individuals, including journalists covering the protest.
Organizers of the protest said they had formally notified the police of their intention to stage the demonstration in a letter dated April 3, 2025.
Speaking to reporters, one protester emphasized that the demonstration was peaceful and aimed at drawing the government’s attention to their grievances. Among their demands were the reinstatement of suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the repeal of the Cybercrime Act.
“We don’t recognize the current administration in Rivers State. We voted for a governor, not a sole administrator. This is democracy, and we are here to demand that our elected leader returns to office,” the protester said.
The Port Harcourt protest is part of a broader wave of demonstrations taking place in Lagos, Oyo, and several other states, where young Nigerians are calling for good governance and constitutional accountability.
On Sunday, ahead of the planned demonstrations, the Nigeria Police Force issued a warning, urging organizers to cancel the protests. Force spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi described the protests as “ill-timed” and “mischievous,” particularly as they coincided with the National Police Day celebrations.
“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is questionable and perceived as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the Nigeria Police and the country,” Adejobi said in a statement.
Despite the warnings, protesters in multiple states have continued to take to the streets, insisting on their right to peaceful assembly and expression.
