The Nigeria Police Force celebrated its National Police Day last Monday April 7, 2025 with a heavy clampdown on protesters from the TakeItBack movement across the country, who had trooped out on the streets protesting against the cybercrime Act, increasing hardships in the country and the illegal imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State.
It’s not known if the Police were angry that the protesting youth were against the declaration of every April 7 as national Police Day or not. But what is certain is that the protesting youth said they had formally and officially informed the Police about their protests nationwide.
In Lagos, the commercial nerve centre of the country however, the TakeItBack protest was peaceful as youth gathered at the Ikeja protest venue early in the morning, from where they marched, with placards and chanting anti government songs and slogans to the State Government House in Alausa, Ikeja, capital of the state.
It was not so in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital where the Police descended heavily on protesters, teargassed and beat some of them up. Those beaten, including Journalists sustained injuries. But no live was lost.
Our Correspondents who covered the protests in the state capital report that protesters had earlier told the policemen at Isaac Boro Park, venue of their gathering, that they had informed the police command about their intention to stage the demonstration in a letter dated April 3, 2025.
As the Police shot teargas to disperse them, the protesters managed to regroup outside the park and started the protest march towards CFC bus stop, along Aba road. But the Police engaged them with teargas and heavy force.
The protesters, who are members of the ‘TakeItBack Movement’ were greeted by heavy police presence when they gathered at the protest venue as early as 9 am. A combined team of security operatives gave the protesters a hot chase and beat up some of them, including journalists covering the protest at the CFC bus stop.
“Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the young demonstrators told the policemen who warned them not to hold the protest.
Hours later, the State Police Command denied reports of using teargas and live bullets to disperse the demonstrators. In a press release signed by the Command’s Spokeswoman, SP Grace Iringe-Koko and widely circulated on the social media stated:
“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of the false story currently circulating on various social media platforms alleging that police officers opened fire on protesters and used tear gas to disperse them on Monday, April 7, 2025, around Abali Park and the Federal Secretariat Complex, Aba Road.
“The Command wishes to categorically clarify that the report is unfounded. Upon receiving intelligence regarding the protest, our officers were promptly deployed to the specified locations. On arrival, a group of miscreants was observed engaging in criminal acts, including the theft of mobile phones and other valuables from unsuspecting members of the public. Our operatives responded swiftly, dispersing the individuals.
“This baseless story appears to be a deliberate fabrication by mischief makers seeking to incite public anxiety and create unnecessary tension within the state. We urge members of the public to disregard such unfounded claims and remain assured of their safety.”
The statement concluded by reaffirming the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state in a professional, lawful, and community-friendly manner.
In Abuja, the federal Capital Territory (FCT), our Correspondent reports that the Protesters were given the same treatment like those in Rivers state, except that they were not beaten and rough handled.
But as they proceeded on their protest march from somewhere around the Eagle Square, also very close to venue of the national police day celebration to the National Assembly, where they were expected to hand over their petition to lawmakers, they were teargassed and close marked by security operatives.
