Young demonstrators under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday defied police warning and staged protests in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, among other states.
Clad in their signature orange berets, the protesters began their rally in Lagos at the Ikeja Under Bridge, marching through major roads in the state capital while chanting solidarity songs, under the watchful eyes of police officers.
Take-It-Back Movement protesters in Lagos on April 7, 2025
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had earlier urged the movement to cancel its planned nationwide protest, describing the timing as “ill-conceived and mischievous.”
However, in a swift response, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the police’s concerns, rejecting claims that the protest, scheduled for Monday, was intended to undermine the National Police Day celebration.
The Take-It-Back movement protests are usually without any specific demands. The “Take It Back” movement has been active in organizing protests and making demands on various issues: The state of the Nigerian economy, the president’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, among other issues.
In Oyo, members of the Take-It-Back Movement protest held their peaceful demonstration in Ibadan, the state capital with security operatives on standby to ensure no breach of peace.
The situation, however, turned awry in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where police fired teargas at protesters at the Isaac Boro Park.
“Nobody can tell us where not to gather, we are Rivers people,” the young demonstrators told the policemen who warned them not to hold the protest.
Policemen gave the protesters a hot chase and beat up some of them including journalists reporting the event.
The protesters had earlier told the policemen that they had informed the police command of their intention to stage the demonstration in a letter dated April 3, 2025.
One of the protesters had told reporters that the “peaceful protest” was to express their grievances to the government. “We are not here for violence,” he had said.
The demonstrator listed some of their grievances to include the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
“As it is, we have no government. This government in Rivers State is alien to our people; it is unconstitutional. We are here to demand that our governor comes back to office and lead us appropriately. We have a social contract with the governor and not the sole administrator. This is democracy,” he said.
