Officers from the Rivers State Police Command clashed with the #Take-It-Back protesters at Isaac Boro Park in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Monday morning, using teargas to disperse the crowd.
The demonstrators, members of the ‘Take It Back Movement,’ were met with a heavy police presence as early as 9 a.m. when they gathered at the protest site. “Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the protesters defiantly told the officers, who warned them against holding the demonstration.
Tensions escalated as police chased and beat some protesters, including journalists covering the event. The protesters had previously notified the police about their planned protest in a letter dated April 3, 2025.
One protester told reporters that the rally was intended to express their grievances with the government. “We are not here for violence,” he asserted, emphasizing that their goal was to peacefully demand change.
Key issues raised by the protesters included the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional. We are here to demand that our governor returns to office and leads us properly. We have a social contract with the governor, not with a sole administrator. This is democracy,” said one of the demonstrators.
Similar protests have emerged in other states, including Lagos and Oyo, with demonstrators demanding better governance.
On Sunday, police authorities had urged organizers of the nationwide protest to reconsider, citing ongoing national concerns. Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi criticized the timing of the protest, particularly as it coincided with the National Police Day celebration.
“The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is questionable and perceived to be a deliberate and unpatriotic act that could damage the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole,” Adejobi stated. He further advised organizers to cancel the protest, calling it “ill-timed and mischievous.”
