The Take-It-Back Movement, under the leadership of activist Omoyele Sowore, has reaffirmed its commitment to hold a national protest on June 12.
The group says the demonstration is aimed at condemning the ongoing killings across Nigeria and confronting what it describes as the erosion of democracy by those in power.
In a statement issued by the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, the group rejected the annual official ceremonies held to mark June 12, calling them meaningless in light of the prevailing conditions in the country.
“We will not participate in the hypocrisy of celebrating freedom where none exists.
Instead, we declare this day a national day of resistance, a day to stand against tyranny and bad governance,” the statement read.
The group pointed to signs of what it calls a democratic breakdown nationwide, noting that the gains achieved through past struggles have been dismantled.
“Freedom of speech is under attack. The state has turned on its citizens with an unrelenting campaign of intimidation and censorship,”
it stated.
It also raised concerns about the increasing repression of journalists, activists, and ordinary Nigerians, especially those expressing dissent online.
“Journalists are harassed. Activists are detained. Citizens are arrested for social media posts. Through weaponisation of the Cybercrime Act, government agents now stalk the digital footprints of dissenters, silencing legitimate criticism and criminalising free expression.”
Beyond issues of civil liberty, the group decried the widespread violence plaguing rural communities, particularly in regions such as Plateau, Benue, and Southern Kaduna.
It blamed the state for either failing to act or choosing to ignore the killings.
“And while the voices in the streets are silenced, the cries from rural communities echo unheard. In Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, and across the Middle Belt, mass killings continue with terrifying frequency. Whole communities are decimated. Lives are snuffed out without consequences.”
“Internally displaced persons multiply, while perpetrators roam free. The bloodletting has become a routine, and the state remains complicit through its inaction, negligence, or outright denial. This is not a democracy. This is organised cruelty.”
In conclusion, the movement called on Nigerians to join its June 12 demonstrations, dedicating the protest to victims of violence, oppression, and neglect.
“This June 12, we march not just for ourselves, but for the slain in Benue, the displaced in Plateau, the silenced in detention, and the starving masses abandoned by the corrupt elite.”
