Police Ask TIB Movement To Cancel April 7 Protest, Say It’s Meant To Tarnish Nigeria’s Image
The Nigeria Police Force has urged the Take It Back (TIB) Movement to shelve its planned nationwide protest slated for Monday, April 7, describing the action as ill-timed and a deliberate attempt to undermine the country.
The protest, expected to hold in several states including Abuja, coincides with National Police Day—a date set aside by the Federal Government to honour the contributions of police personnel to national security.
In a statement issued on Sunday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police described the planned protest as unpatriotic and mischievous.
They warned that the timing raises questions about the motive behind the protest, especially as it falls on a day scheduled to host dignitaries, including foreign Inspectors-General of Police and diplomats, for celebrations.
“The Nigeria Police Force has read in the news that a group called ‘Take it Back Movement’ is planning a protest across various states of the Federation, most especially the Federal Capital Territory, scheduled to hold on Monday 7th April, 2025, a day earmarked by the Federal Government as the National Police Day,” the statement said.
“While not against the exercise of citizens’ right to peaceful assembly and association in Nigeria as enshrined in the Constitution, the Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned about the motive behind such protest… [It is] perceived to be a deliberate attempt and unpatriotic act capable of rubbishing and maligning the image of the Nigeria Police and the nation as a whole.”
The Force advised the organisers to suspend the protest and embrace dialogue with the appropriate government agencies.
Meanwhile, the TIB Movement has accused the Nigerian government of attempting to stifle its planned protest by disrupting communication channels nationwide.
According to a statement signed by Comrade Ufezime Nelson Ubi, Delta State Deputy Coordinator of the movement, telecom providers were allegedly instructed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to tamper with network access in key protest areas.
“As the sun begins to rise on a new chapter in Nigeria’s civic awakening, the air is thick with determination. April 7th is more than a protest; it is a people’s mandate,” Ubi stated.
He described the move as a “cowardly and illegal” suppression of civil rights, saying the group had obtained credible information that top officials were behind the alleged sabotage.
“This is not just a technical maneuver. It is a betrayal of the people’s right to organise, to speak, to connect, and to demand better. It is an assault on civil liberty,” he said.
The TIB Movement also condemned the Cybercrime Act, labelling it a “draconian tool of repression” used to silence dissent, journalists, and activists.
The group maintained that the protest would go on as planned, insisting it would not be silenced.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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