Amanze ChinonyeAmnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the attack on protesters and journalists during peaceful protests held on Monday in major cities across the country.
Protesters were reportedly attacked by police officers during the protest in some cities, including Port Harcourt, Abuja, Damaturu and Lagos.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSome journalists who covered the protests in these cities were equally assaulted. Videos showed police officers throwing teargas canisters at protesters to disperse them.
The police action against peaceful protesters in these cities has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Amnesty International condemned the action of the law enforcement agents.
The international civil rights and justice advocate described as “unlawful” the arrest of activists participating in the protests, adding that it is unacceptable.
The group said: “The Nigerian authorities must impartially and effectively investigate attacks by the Nigerian police on protesters and journalists during peaceful protests yesterday in Port Harcourt. Charles Oporum of Channels TV and Ikezam Godswill of AIT were assaulted by the police.
“Apart from shooting and the reckless use of tear gas, the police also confiscated cameras and at gunpoint, ordered journalists to delete video footage recorded at the scene of the protests. The worrying trend of the police targeting journalists during protests is unlawful.”
It lamented that it is becoming a norm for police to assault journalists and damage their equipment during protests. “Viciously targeting journalists for just doing their job is part of a wider attempt by the Nigerian government to muzzle dissenting voices in the country,” the group stated via its X handle.
Young protesters had on Monday, 7 April 2025, proceeded with their scheduled protest, despite police warnings. Themed “End Bad Governance and Suppression of Free Speech,” the protest organised by Take It Back (TIB) movement, recorded participation of many demonstrators who gathered in major cities across the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and Rivers State, to exercise their civil rights and make their voices heard.
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The police had earlier urged the group to cancel the planned protest, as the day had been designated to mark the commemoration of Nigerian Police Day.
However, the protesters took to the streets, maintaining their stance and raising placards and voices in a fight against what they perceived as bad governance and the suppression of free speech.
The Take It Back movement highlighted that the aim of the protest was to draw attention to national challenges while demanding accountability from the Nigerian government and an end to the constant infringement on citizens’ rights.
Their specific demands included an immediate review of the Cybercrime (Amendment) Act of 2024, an end to military rule in Rivers State, and a halt to demolitions across various regions of the country.
READ ALSO: Police Put Officers On Alert As TIB Movement, Others Organise Nationwide Protest
Additionally, they called for urgent measures to address hunger, mitigate the cost-of-living crisis, combat insecurity, and protect farmers’ rights.
In Lagos, a group of protesters from the Take It Back movement converged at the Ikeja Under Bridge, while in Abuja, protesters gathered at the Maitama area. However, the police dispersed the Abuja protesters with tear gas. A similar experience was reported in Rivers State, where protesters were also dispersed by the police, forcing them and passersby to run for safety.
Security operatives said they were on the ground to prevent a breakdown of law and order, ensure that hoodlums did not hijack the protest, and enforce total compliance as directed by the Inspector General of Police.
The protests underscored the growing concerns among Nigerians about governance issues and the need for governmental accountability. The Take It Back movement’s actions reflect a broader desire for change and the protection of citizens’ rights in the face of perceived governmental shortcomings.
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