Nationwide protest by Take-It-Back Movement starts in Lagos, Abuja, others as police disrupts gathering

A group of Nigerians under the aegis of the ‘Take It Back’ movement, on Monday, April 7 took to the streets of Lagos in protest against what they described as bad governance and the shrinking space for free speech in the country.

The protest, which gained momentum across the country, was organised in collaboration with several civil society organisations.

Key among other concerns raised by the organizers is the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act, the worsening economic hardship in the country, and what they described as a “state of emergency” in Rivers State.

In Lagos, protesters took off from Ikeja under Bridge marched along the Obafemi Awolowo Way.

They echoed in Unison “We are hungry! What are we saying?” they echoed in unison, drawing attention from bystanders and passersby.

In Abuja protesters Monday defied police warnings and kicked off a nationwide demonstration in Abuja against the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act and worsening economic hardship.

The demonstrators carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe” as they marched through the streets of the Federal Capital Territory.

Protesters, who had gathered to express their grievances, were thrown into disarray as operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday dispersed them with tear gas in the Maitama area of the nation’s capital.

A police helicopter was seen hovering around the nation’s capital, monitoring happenings from above at about 10 am.

As part of the security arrangements, authorities had placed a blockade around the Three Arms Zone, where top police officials were expected to attend the ceremony honoring the service of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

According to the group, the Act has become a tool for harassment, intimidation, and suppression of free speech, as security agencies allegedly exploit it to silence critics and journalists.

The demonstration saw the participation of Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, who joined protesters carrying placards with messages such as “Hunger Dey,” “Let Us Breathe,” and “Stop the Repression.”

In Ibadan, Oyo State, protesters converged at Iwo Road despite a heavy security presence.

“We cannot continue like this; the Cybercrime Act must be repealed,” a protester in Lagos declared.

The demonstrators vowed to sustain the pressure on authorities until their demands were met.

Earlier, in a statement released last Friday, the National Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest was aimed at resisting what he termed the “increasing authoritarianism” of the current administration and to demand urgent relief for Nigerians battling inflation and insecurity.

There were no reports of injuries or arrests, but the atmosphere remained tense.

The National Assembly complex — one of the protesters’ intended destinations — remained largely deserted due to the ongoing legislative recess. Lawmakers are scheduled to resume on April 29.

Despite the disruption, protest leaders insisted that the demonstration was both necessary and timely, stressing the urgent need for government action to address rising economic hardship, insecurity, and perceived efforts to silence dissent.