By Hauwau Shehu Maikeffi
What was billed as a peaceful demonstration for justice and civil rights turned tense on Monday morning as members of the TakeitBack Movement were forcefully barred by police from gaining access to the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.
The protest, which drew activists, civil society advocates, and aggrieved citizens, aimed to spotlight several grievances — including opposition to a proposed emergency rule in Rivers State, widespread allegations of human rights abuse, and the controversial application of Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act to stifle dissent.
But just meters from their intended destination, protesters were met with a barricade of heavily armed police officers. Shouts of “Let us speak!” and “We are peaceful!” echoed along the gates of the assembly, as demonstrators waved placards and national flags, calling for accountability and the protection of democratic freedoms.
“This is not just about Rivers,” said Adebayo Adeyinka, one of the group’s coordinators. “It’s about every Nigerian whose voice has been silenced, whose rights are being trampled in the name of order. Blocking us only confirms the rot we are speaking against.”
Eyewitnesses reported that the protest began calmly around 9:00 a.m., with participants chanting and delivering speeches. However, tensions quickly escalated as security forces began to push back the crowd, citing “security directives.” Some protesters claimed that phones were seized and media coverage disrupted.
“We had journalists with us. Some of their cameras were turned off. Why are they afraid of being seen?” one protester, who asked not to be named, said.
While no major injuries were reported, scuffles between officers and demonstrators triggered a wave of condemnation on social media, with many questioning the state government’s stance on peaceful assembly.
The TakeitBack Movement, originally sparked by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has gained renewed traction in recent weeks amid growing discontent over government policies and perceived clampdowns on civil liberties.
Monday’s protest was designed as a symbolic stand, urging lawmakers to reject what the group calls “the creeping militarization of democratic spaces” and the misuse of laws — especially the Cybercrime Act — to silence critics.
“Today’s Nigeria is becoming unrecognizable,” said Halimat Oloye, a university student at the protest. “Instead of dialogue, we get riot gear. Instead of reforms, we get repression.”
As of press time, the Lagos State Government and the House of Assembly had not issued an official statement regarding the blockade or the protesters’ demands. Police sources, however, claimed the demonstration lacked proper permits and posed a potential security risk.
Legal experts argue that the Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly without requiring express permission, raising concerns about the increasing frequency with which protests are disrupted under vague pretenses.
The events in Lagos are the latest in a series of confrontations between citizens demanding greater accountability and a state apparatus increasingly seen as intolerant of dissent. As Nigeria approaches another election cycle and continues to grapple with economic hardship and social unrest, the role of peaceful protest — and the government’s response to it — will remain a central barometer of the nation’s democratic health.
For the TakeitBack Movement, Monday’s setback is not the end — just another chapter in what they call a “fight for the soul of Nigeria.”
