Young Nigerians under the Take-It-Back Movement took to the streets on Monday in various states including Lagos, Abuja, Oyo, and Rivers, ignoring warnings from the Nigeria Police Force against their planned nationwide protest.
Donning orange berets, the group kicked off their rally at Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos, marching through key routes while singing protest chants under police surveillance.
Earlier, the police had cautioned the group to shelve the protest, labeling it “ill-conceived and mischievous.” But activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the warning, clarifying that the protest was not aimed at disrupting National Police Day.
“These protests are not to spite the police or any celebration,” he emphasized, responding to claims from security authorities.
Known for raising awareness on various national issues, the Take-It-Back Movement voiced opposition to recent government actions, including the economic situation, the controversial Cybercrime Act, and the political crisis in Rivers State.
In Oyo State, demonstrators gathered peacefully in Ibadan while being closely monitored by security personnel. But tensions escalated in Port Harcourt, where police fired teargas at protesters who had assembled at Isaac Boro Park.
“Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the protesters responded when police tried to disperse them.
Despite notifying authorities in a letter dated April 3, 2025, the group was violently confronted. Eyewitnesses reported that some protesters and journalists covering the event were physically assaulted.
“We are not here for violence,” one participant told reporters. “We just want our voices heard.”
Another protester criticized the political situation in Rivers State. “As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional,” he said. “We have a social contract with the governor, not a sole administrator. This is democracy.”
