On April 7, 2025, members of the Take-It-Back Movement (TIBM) converged at the iconic Ikeja Under Bridge in Lagos for a massive protest against bad governance, rising cybercrime, and the looming threat of emergency rule in Rivers State. Defying security warnings, the protesters, dressed in their signature orange berets, marched through the streets, chanting solidarity songs and demanding systemic reforms.
The protest came despite a directive from the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, urging organizers to call off the demonstration. The police had described the protest as “ill-timed” due to its clash with the newly declared National Police Day. However, the Take-It-Back Movement maintained that no date should be exempt from citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and expression.
Protesters moved toward key government institutions, including the Lagos State Government House and the State House of Assembly in Alausa. Their placards bore messages condemning economic hardship, attacks on free speech, and the erosion of civil liberties. The protest remained largely peaceful, though the presence of law enforcement was heavy.
Beyond Lagos, similar demonstrations were reported in other parts of the country, including Ibadan, Port Harcourt, and Abuja. Each rally reflected the growing frustration among citizens over governance failures, insecurity, and the widening gap between the political elite and the populace.
The Take-It-Back Movement reiterated that the protest was not a threat to national security but rather a demand for accountability and justice. Organizers vowed to continue their civic actions, emphasizing that the future of Nigeria depends on citizens rising above fear to reclaim their rights and shape their destiny.
