Cybercrime Protest in Abuja Turns Violent as Nigerian Police Clash with Demonstrators
posted 7th April 2025
Cybercrime Protest in Abuja Turns Violent as Nigerian Police Clash with Demonstrators
Abuja, Nigeria – 7 April 2025
Tensions erupted in the Nigerian capital today as police reportedly clashed with protesters, including prominent activist Omoyele Sowore, during a demonstration against the controversial Cybercrime Act. The protest, organised under the banner of the #RepealTheCyberCrimeAct movement, saw demonstrators take to the streets of Abuja to demand the abolition of the law, which critics argue is being used to suppress free speech and dissent.
In a post on X , Sowore, a key figure in the protest and leader of the #RevolutionNow movement, accused the Nigerian police of deploying officers who "attacked" the demonstrators. "The ignoble @PoliceNG officers were deployed and they attacked us during today’s #RepealTheCyberCrimeAct protest in Abuja. #EgbetokinMustGo #RevolutionNow," he wrote, accompanying the message with a call for the resignation of Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun.
The Cybercrime Act, first enacted in 2015 and amended in 2024, has long been a point of contention in Nigeria. Activists, including Sowore, claim it grants authorities excessive powers to silence critics under the guise of combating online crime. Today’s protest was part of a broader campaign highlighting what demonstrators describe as authoritarianism under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, alongside issues of human rights abuses and economic hardship.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the demonstration, which kicked off in the early hours of Monday, 7 April, initially proceeded peacefully. However, the situation escalated when police moved to disperse the crowd, allegedly resorting to force. Details of injuries or arrests remain unclear at the time of reporting, though Sowore’s post indicates a heavy-handed response from law enforcement.
The Nigerian police have yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. However, the clash follows a pattern of friction between security forces and Sowore, who has faced multiple arrests and charges in recent years, including a high-profile cybercrime case earlier this year. In January, he was granted bail of ₦10 million by a Federal High Court in Abuja after being charged with 16 counts related to social media posts criticising Egbetokun.
The #RepealTheCyberCrimeAct protest has garnered significant attention online, with supporters rallying behind Sowore’s call for reform. The hashtag #EgbetokinMustGo has also gained traction, reflecting growing public frustration with the police leadership.
