As Nigeria readies itself to observe Democracy Day on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the Take It Back Movement has declared plans to lead a nationwide demonstration against what it describes as “a deepening crisis of insecurity, shrinking civil liberties, and worsening economic conditions.”
In a statement released on Monday, the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, urged Nigerians—workers, students, artisans, civil society organizations, and even those living abroad—to take to the streets in peaceful protest across state capitals and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Addressing the public, Sanyaolu framed the June 12 march as an act of solidarity with communities besieged by violence 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 a corrupt elite,” the statement read, underscoring a movement that regards this year’s Democracy Day not as a celebration but as a moment to demand accountability.
Despite a long-standing ban on public protests announced by the Nigeria Police Force, the Take It Back Movement insists it will go forward with demonstrations in major cities.
Sanyaolu dismissed the warnings, stating, “We recognize the police directive, but Nigerians can no longer be muzzled while their lives are under threat. Our constitution guarantees peaceful assembly, and we intend to exercise that right on June 12.”
June 12 holds special resonance in the Nigerian consciousness as the date of the annulled 1993 presidential election—a watershed moment often cited as the embodiment of popular democracy.
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Yet, for Sanyaolu and his supporters, the democratic promise symbolized by June 12 has been eclipsed by relentless hardship. “What we have today is not democracy, but organized cruelty,” he said. “Freedom of speech is under attack. The state has turned on its citizens with an unrelenting campaign of intimidation and censorship.”
Central to the movement’s grievances is the security situation in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and northern regions. Sanyaolu highlighted recent massacres in Benue, Plateau, and Southern Kaduna, where waves of attacks have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.
“In Plateau, Benue, and across the Middle Belt, mass killings continue with terrifying frequency,” he declared. “Entire villages have been wiped out, leaving families homeless, while perpetrators roam free. The federal government has failed in its primary responsibility to protect lives and property.”
Refugee camps in Plateau State reportedly accommodate tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing ethnic and communal violence, yet relief and protection remain woefully inadequate.
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“Journalists are harassed, activists are detained, and citizens are arrested for social media posts,” Sanyaolu alleged. “The Cybercrime Act has become a tool to monitor, intimidate, and silence digital dissent.
Under the guise of national security, the government routinely shuts down websites and arrests individuals for expressing their views online.”
Human rights groups have documented multiple instances this year of bloggers and Twitter users being charged under sections of the Act that criminalize “cyberstalking” and “electronic fraud,” often carrying sentences of up to seven years in prison.
The movement’s statement also drew attention to the country’s deteriorating economic conditions, citing rising inflation, youth unemployment, and a shrinking middle class. “While the ruling elite live in opulence, citizens struggle to put food on their tables,” Sanyaolu said.
“We are taking back our future,” Sanyaolu declared in closing. “Democracy is not a day of speeches and parades. It is the right to live in dignity, to speak freely, and to be safe in our homes. We refuse to be silent.”