Tensions flared on Monday, April 7, 2025, as police officers in Rivers State fired tear gas to disperse protesters part of the #TakeItBack movement in Port Harcourt.
Organizers, including members of the Take It Back Movement, Civil Society Organizations, and the Niger Delta Congress, gathered at Isaac Boro Park to stage a protest.
However, the protest quickly turned confrontational when officers from the Rivers State Police Command demanded that they leave the park.
Despite police instructions to relocate, the protesters remained defiant, chanting solidarity songs and marching toward Aba Express Road.
They were intercepted by armed anti-riot police officers at the CFC junction, who once again ordered the protesters to vacate the street.
The order was ignored, prompting the police to fire tear gas canisters into the crowd, causing the demonstrators to scatter in an effort to flee the scene.
One of the protest organizers said, “We will not be intimidated. Our voices will be heard.” However, police maintained that their actions were necessary to ensure public order.
Further developments are expected as the situation continues to unfold.