With the forend lever stuck out like that my guess is that the spring and tumbler did not engage with the lever when you assembled it. Otherwise the spring would have tension on the lever and it would snap back. When the lever is pulled out it moves the tumbler which releases the forend.
Since there is no contact currently between the lever and the tumbler, when it was snapped back in place the tumbler engaged. Since there is no way to move it without the lever, my advice for what it is worth is to pull gently on the forend and hopefully that pressure will cause the tumbler to move/rotate out of the hook on the barrels. There is no pressure holding it the way I figure so a steady pressure may make it possible to "tumble" back out of its locked position.
Just my 2 cents, as if it were mine and what I would try.
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