Despite warnings from the Nigerian Police, protesters took to the streets of Lagos on Monday, April 7, 2025, to march against cybercrime and what they describe as a looming threat of emergency rule in Rivers State. The protest, organized by the Take It Back Movement (TIBM), defied official advice and drew attention to key national concerns amid tight security presence.
The demonstrators gathered beneath the iconic Ikeja Under-Bridge before marching toward the Lagos State Government House and the State House of Assembly in Alausa. Their objective was to deliver a strong message to authorities about their stance on cybercrime and political developments in Rivers State. Notably, the protest remained peaceful despite a heavy security deployment.
This public display of dissent came just one day after the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, publicly urged the organizers to cancel the planned nationwide protest. In a statement released by Police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Force described the protest as “ill-timed,” particularly as it coincided with the newly established National Police Day.
“In line with global best practices in celebrating police institutions, the Nigerian Government has declared April 7 as National Police Day,” the police statement read. “The rationale behind staging a nationwide protest on the same day is questionable and perceived as a deliberate and unpatriotic act aimed at maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole.”
Nevertheless, the Take It Back Movement pressed on, asserting that the protest was an exercise of their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. “No government should dictate when citizens can express their grievances. The right to protest is not conditional on convenience to those in power,” said Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the movement.
The protest procession continued from Alausa toward Ojota and Gani Fawehinmi Park, where Sanyaolu was expected to address the crowd formally. He reiterated the group’s commitment to nonviolence, stating that their action was not intended to antagonize the police but to highlight critical issues affecting Nigerians.
