A nationwide protest championed by the Take It Back Movement is currently unfolding across Nigeria, drawing attention to what the group describes as a deepening crisis under the current administration.
In Abuja, prominent activist Omoyele Sowore and human rights advocate Deji Adeyanju led demonstrators through the streets despite police efforts to disperse them. The atmosphere was tense as security personnel attempted to halt the march.
In Lagos, demonstrators gathered in Ikeja with placards, voicing dissatisfaction with governance and alleged human rights violations.
Meanwhile, in Rivers State, protesters who assembled at Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, were teargassed by police before their demonstration could gain momentum.
Authorities had previously issued warnings against the protest, particularly due to its timing. The Nigeria Police Force raised concerns over the protest coinciding with National Police Day, an event declared by the Federal Government to honour the sacrifices and contributions of police officers across the country.
In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police questioned the motive behind holding a protest on a day meant to celebrate national law enforcement.
“The protest, scheduled for April 7, 2025, is perceived as a calculated move to undermine the image of the Nigeria Police and, by extension, the country,” the statement read in part.
While acknowledging citizens’ right to peaceful assembly, the police cautioned that staging such a protest on a symbolic day could portray Nigeria negatively before global dignitaries and diplomatic representatives attending the Police Day celebrations.
The statement concluded by urging the organisers to cancel the protest and instead seek dialogue with relevant authorities to address their grievances.
However, the Take It Back Movement maintains that the demonstration is necessary to draw attention to what it calls increasing authoritarianism, misuse of the Cybercrime Act, and widespread rights violations under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
