Organizers of the June 12 Democracy Day protest, under the banner of the Take It Back Movement, have formally requested protection from the Lagos State Police Command for demonstrators. Adekunle Taofeek, the TIB Coordinator in Lagos, addressed an open letter to the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the protesters during the planned event.
The letter, dated Tuesday, underscores the movement’s intent to conduct a peaceful protest against the prevailing insecurity and economic challenges in Nigeria. “On June 12, 2025, the people of Nigeria will take to the streets in peaceful protest against the unbearable insecurity and economic hardship,” Adekunle stated. The organizers highlighted that June 12 is a crucial date that symbolizes Nigerians’ ongoing struggle for freedom and justice.
The Take It Back Movement asserts that protesting is a constitutional right, referencing sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. The movement insists that the police have no legal basis to suppress peaceful dissent. The letter explicitly demands that the Lagos State Police Command refrains from any actions that could lead to the harassment, brutalization, or arrest of peaceful protesters and instead deploy officers to protect the demonstrators, ensuring they conduct themselves professionally and with restraint.
This year’s commemoration of June 12 marks 26 years of democratic rule in Nigeria, following the transition from military governance in 1999. The date is significant due to the annulled 1993 presidential election, in which Moshood Abiola was the presumed winner, an event that has shaped Nigeria’s democratic journey.
