The Take It Back Movement has declared plans to hold a nationwide protest on June 12, rejecting the official Democracy Day celebrations and instead drawing attention to the worsening state of the nation.
In a statement by National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu, the group said the protest is a response to escalating insecurity, a shrinking civic space, and deepening economic hardship. He called on Nigerians—workers, students, artisans, civil society organizations, and diaspora communities—to join the peaceful demonstrations.
“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 a corrupt elite,” the statement read.
Despite a police ban on public protests, Sanyaolu insisted that the demonstrations would proceed across all state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory.
The movement condemned the continued violence in Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, and other parts of the Middle Belt, accusing the government of neglect and complicity. It highlighted the destruction of entire communities, the displacement of thousands, and a lack of accountability for the perpetrators.
“Lives are snuffed out with terrifying frequency. The bloodletting has become routine. This is not democracy—it is organised cruelty,” Sanyaolu stated.
He also criticized the Federal Government’s crackdown on dissent, citing arrests of protesters, detention of activists, and the targeting of journalists and social media users through the Cybercrime Act.
“Nigeria today is not a democratic nation, but a country at war with its own people. The state now stalks the digital footprints of its critics. Freedom of expression is being criminalized,” he warned.
The Take It Back Movement urged Nigerians to reclaim their democratic rights through peaceful protest, declaring that June 12 should not only mark a historical struggle, but also a renewed fight for justice, freedom, and accountability.