The Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against a planned nationwide protest set to take place on April 7, the same day as the National Police Day celebration.
The Take-It-Back (TIB) movement had earlier announced the protest, scheduled for April 7, 2025.
According to Juwon Sanyaolu, the national coordinator of TIB, the protesters are demanding, among other things, the repeal of the Cybercrime Act and an end to the emergency rule in Rivers State, which the group described as a “military-style dictatorship under Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
However, in a statement released on Sunday, Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi questioned the motive behind the planned protest, labeling it as “ill-timed and mischievous.”
“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 scheduled on the same day the contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to national security is to be celebrated, putting into consideration that such glamorous event would bring together dignitaries from all spheres of life both internationally and within the country, including Foreign Inspectors-General of Police and Diplomats,” the statement reads.
The police urged the organisers to shelve the planned protest and encouraged them to dialogue with relevant government institutions.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, while reaffirming the commitment of the NPF to adequately carrying out its mandate in accordance with the Law and respect for rights of citizens, hereby, urges all the organizers of the planned protest as well as individuals who intend to join the protest to pursue dialogue by engaging the proper institution of government to press home their demands,” the statement added.
