Protesters, under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement, defied police warnings on Monday, staging protests in major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers.
TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) understands that the protesters had gathered to voice their concerns on various national issues, including economic hardship and the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In the photos/videos that surfaced on social media, the demonstrators donned their signature orange berets as they yelled solidarity songs whilst holding placards and banners.
In Lagos, the protesters gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge before marching through major roads in the state capital under the watchful eyes of police officers stationed throughout the area.
The protest also spread to Oyo State, Rivers State, and the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, where protesters were seen holding placards bearing messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”
Despite earlier warnings from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which urged the movement to cancel the nationwide protest, the demonstrators continued their march, undeterred.
The NPF had described the protest as “ill-conceived and mischievous,” claiming that it was an attempt to undermine the National Police Day celebrations.
In response to the police’s warnings, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who has been a leading figure in the movement, rejected the claims that the protest was meant to disrupt the Police Day celebrations.
Sowore emphasized that the protest was centred around issues such as the current state of the Nigerian economy and the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
“The government has consistently failed to address the real issues affecting ordinary Nigerians. “This protest is about giving voice to the people’s suffering, and any threats will not silence us,” Sowore stated.
The Take-It-Back Movement has been known for organizing protests and voicing concerns over various issues, including the state of the Nigerian economy, government corruption, and most recently, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.