The Nigerian police have another opportunity to ensure they respect the right of citizens to peaceful assembly as the Take-It-Back demonstrators gather in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Development Diaries reports that police operatives have used tear gas to disperse the protesters in Abuja, which is a clear violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.
The protests, organised by the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups, are in response to the rising cost of living, growing insecurity, and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act.
The protesters are also raising concerns over the ‘state of emergency’ rule in Rivers State.
It is understood that rather than engaging with them, the police responded with force, showing once again the shrinking space for peaceful dissent in Nigeria.
This has unfortunately become a norm in Nigeria; it’s not the first time peaceful protests have been met with violence.
During the #EndSARS protests in 2020, young Nigerians demanding an end to police brutality were also attacked, many arrested and kept in detention till now.
Even on anniversaries of the protest, security forces have continued to clamp down on gatherings.
More recently, the ‘End Bad Governance’ protest, which sought to highlight the poor state of governance in the country, was similarly disrupted by the police, and protesters were arrested and prosecuted.
These recurring incidents show a disturbing pattern of disregarding citizens’ rights to freely assemble and voice their grievances.
Using tear gas or force to silence peaceful protesters does not solve the issues being raised; it only creates more tension.
The continued repression of civic voices sends the wrong message. It shows a lack of respect for the rule of law and for the citizens the government is supposed to serve.
It is time for the police and government authorities to change their approach and respect the rights of Nigerians to speak up peacefully and be heard.
Development Diaries calls on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to call his men to order and ensure they act in line with the law, protecting citizens’ rights while upholding their duty to maintain peace.
Photo source: BBC
