Young demonstrators under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday defied police warning and staged protests in Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, among other states.
Clad in their signature orange berets, the protesters began their rally in Lagos at the Ikeja Under Bridge, marching through major roads in the state capital while chanting solidarity songs, under the watchful eyes of police officers.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had earlier urged the movement to cancel its planned nationwide protest, describing the timing as “ill-conceived and mischievous.”
However, in a swift response, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore dismissed the police’s concerns, rejecting claims that the protest, scheduled for Monday, was intended to undermine the National Police Day celebration.
The Take-It-Back movement protests are usually without any specific demands. The “Take It Back” movement has been active in organizing protests and making demands on various issues: The state of the Nigerian economy, the president’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, among other issues.
In Oyo, members of the Take-It-Back Movement protest held their peaceful demonstration in Ibadan, the state capital with security operatives on standby to ensure no breach of peace.
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