Victor EzejaLagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has put officers in various jurisdictions on red alert as a nationwide protest is set to begin.
A civil society group known as the Take-It-Back (TIB) movement, and other groups, had last week announced plans to embark on a nationwide protest scheduled for 7 April 2025.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa reported that the TIB, in collaboration with other groups, plans to embark on a nationwide protest.
The protesters’ primary demands, according to a statement released on Friday by TIB National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, are the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and the lifting of emergency rule in Rivers State, which they characterize as a type of military dictatorship under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
However, the police command in a circular signed by Deputy Commissioner, Tijani O. Fatai, said intelligence reports revealed that “Some groups operating under the guise of civil society organizations” are planning to organize protests around Nigeria.”
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Fatai, who noted that the protest is expected to draw attention to what the organisers described as the prevailing high cost of living and government suppression of free speech, expressed concerns that the groups have flooded social media with narratives intended to elicit compassion from the people, cast doubt on the administration, and rally support for the demonstration.
The police DCP expressed concerns that experience has shown that criminals may want to seize the opportunity of the protest to cause mayhem, particularly to launch attacks on government facilities to disrupt socio-economic activities in the State, among others.
“Consequently, the Commissioner of Police has ordered security measures to be beefed up around critical installations and other strategic locations across the State to forestall any untoward development before, during, and after the proposed protest,” Fatai stated.
According to the statement, the deployment of police officers is to ensure that the protest is carried out without any security hitch and prevent criminals, hoodlums or miscreants from hijacking the protest and perpetrating evil before, during and after the protest.
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The statement listed possible strategic places of convergence for such protest in the state including the Gani Fawehinmi Park; National Stadium; Labour House, Yaba; Ikorodu Roundabout; Ikeja Underbridge; Obalende Underbridge; Ikotun Roundabout; Allen Roundabout; Iyana-Iba; Chevron Roundabout: Ajah; Oshodi; Iyana-Ipaja; Abule Egba; Trade-Fair; Cele Express/Oke-Afa/Ejigbo; Apple Junction, Ajao Estate, I jora-Olopa Underbridge; Ojuelegba; Falomo; Marina/Broad Street; Otedola Underbridge; Iponri/Breweries; Igando; LASU/Ojo; Mushin, Idi-Oro; Ketu/Mile 12 Underbridge among others.
It further emphasised that the intervention of security personnel is to “To ensure all law-abiding citizens go about their normal business throughout the period unhindered; to ensure free flow of traffic in the State throughout the protest; to ensure security of lives and property in the state before, during and after the protest.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
