Protests erupted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday as members of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ gathered at Isaac Boro Park, calling for the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a letter dated April 3, 2025, the group had notified the police of their planned demonstration, which aimed to challenge the legitimacy of the current state administration, labeling it unconstitutional.
By 9 a.m., demonstrators were met with a heavy police presence. Tensions rose as officers warned them not to proceed, but protesters stood firm, citing their right to peaceful assembly. “Nobody can tell us where not to gather—we are Rivers people,” one protester declared.
Despite warnings, the protest escalated into a confrontation. Police fired teargas and pursued demonstrators through the park, with reports emerging of officers assaulting several protesters and journalists.
The protesters had two core demands: the repeal of the controversial Cybercrime Act and the immediate return of Governor Fubara. “This administration is foreign to our people,” a protester told reporters. “We elected Fubara—we have a contract with him, not an unelected administrator.”
The Port Harcourt protest is part of a broader movement, with similar demonstrations taking place in Lagos, Oyo, and other states. Protesters nationwide are calling for improved governance, transparency, and accountability.
Earlier, the Nigerian Police Force had urged organizers to cancel the protest due to its overlap with National Police Day celebrations, condemning the action as “ill-timed” and damaging to the country’s image.
Nonetheless, the ‘Take It Back Movement’ has vowed to persist in its campaign for democratic leadership and good governance.
With the protests gaining momentum, particularly in Rivers State, the responses from the government and law enforcement will be pivotal in determining the movement’s trajectory.
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