Young Nigerians under the Take-It-Back Movement staged coordinated protests across several states on Monday, ignoring police advisories urging them to cancel the demonstrations.
The rallies held in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, and other locations, were marked by chants and solidarity songs as protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the state of the nation.
In Lagos, the demonstrators, easily identified by their trademark orange berets, kicked off their procession from the Ikeja Under Bridge and moved through key parts of the city, closely monitored by police personnel.
Before the protests, the Nigeria Police Force had cautioned the movement to shelve the action, describing the timing as inappropriate and potentially disruptive.
However, Omoyele Sowore, an activist and former presidential aspirant, dismissed the concerns, insisting the protests were not aimed at undermining the National Police Day.
While the protests in Lagos and Ibadan remained peaceful, they reflected the group’s usual pattern of voicing dissatisfaction over wide-ranging national issues.
These issues particularly involve economic hardships and recent political developments such as the federal government’s declaration of emergency in Rivers State.
In Ibadan, members of the movement converged peacefully under the watch of security operatives, ensuring calm prevailed throughout the protest.