- The Take-It-Back Movement planned a nationwide protest on April 7, 2025.
- The protest will focus on repealing the Cybercrime Act and ending free speech suppression
- Activists have also called for the reversal of emergency rule in Rivers State
The Take-It-Back (TIB) movement has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on April 7, 2025, in response to the ongoing state of emergency in Rivers State and the alleged misuse of the Cybercrime Act by the Nigerian police to target activists, journalists, and social media influencers.
Founded by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, the #TakeItBackMovement has been a vocal critic of government policies that curtail civil liberties.
Protesters criticise misuse of cybercrime act to target free speech
A flier circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) described the upcoming protest as a “Nationwide Protest Against Bad Governance and Free Speech Suppression.” The flyer urged supporters to gather at the National Assembly in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, on the scheduled date.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of TIB, spoke on the protest’s main objectives during an interview on Monday, March 31. He confirmed that their primary demand was the "repeal of the Cybercrime Act."
Sanyaolu criticised how the law was allegedly being used to target journalists, activists, and social media users, such as SeaKing, for exercising their rights to free expression.
"The issue revolves around how the Cybercrime Act is being weaponised to suppress free speech. Journalists and activists, as you know, are often the primary targets of both the act and the broader crackdown on free speech. This also affects social media users, including individuals like SeaKing and others,” he stated.
Nationwide protest targets Tinubu’s governance, emergency rule
Additionally, the protest organisers called for the end of the emergency rule in Rivers State, which they described as a “military rule imposed by the government of President Bola Tinubu.”
TIB demanded a reversal of the emergency declaration and the reinstatement of all suspended government institutions, including the State House of Assembly and the Executive.
Sanyaolu also expressed concerns about what he called “bad governance” under President Tinubu, saying that the president’s policies have led to widespread hardship. “Most importantly, we are demanding an end to bad governance. The policies implemented by Tinubu have caused considerable hardship,” he remarked.
While the protest will be held in Abuja, Sanyaolu emphasised that the action will be nationwide, with additional protest locations to be announced soon. “This is a nationwide protest. Flyers detailing additional protest locations will be shared soon,” he concluded.
Nigerians mark Independence day with “fearless in October” protests, reiterate demand for reforms
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that as Nigeria celebrated its 64th independence anniversary, protesters gathered under the banner of “Fearless in October,” demanding relief from the economic hardship.
The protesters pushed for solutions to the high cost of living, and reforms in electoral processes, among others. TheRadar compiled the demands of the protesters.