A special circular made available to SaharaReporters outlined details of the demonstration in Oyo State, which is set to begin at Iwo Road, Ibadan, at 8:00 AM. 

The Take It Back Movement has announced plans for a nationwide protest on April 7, 2025, to demand an end to what it describes as the Nigerian government’s increasing crackdown on free speech and continued misgovernance. 

A special circular made available to SaharaReporters outlined details of the demonstration in Oyo State, which is set to begin at Iwo Road, Ibadan, at 8:00 AM. 

The statement reads: Nationwide protest against bad governance and free speech suppression. Date: April 7, 2025; Time: 8:00 AM 

“Convergence point: Iwo Road, Ibadan.

“The Cybercrime Act creates an environment of fear and censorship. We must #RepealCyberCrimeAct for a free Nigeria! Join the masses on 7th of April, Iwo Road, Ibadan. Join us!!”

The #TakeItBackMovement, founded by activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has been at the forefront of protests against government policies that restrict civil liberties.

The group has consistently called out the Nigerian government for weaponising laws such as the Cybercrime Act to silence critics, activists, and journalists. 

The movement’s latest action follows a wave of arrests and prosecutions of citizens over social media posts, which critics argue is a deliberate attempt to stifle dissent. 

A similar case was when the Nigerian police arrested a popular TikToker Timothy Gabriel, widely known as "Tumma” for insulting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun and Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

He was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja and illegally detained for weeks.

The TikToker’s ordeal began on February 6, 2025, when a team of heavily armed officers from the Berger Quarry Police Station in Mpape, Abuja, stormed his location and whisked him away.

He was later transferred to the Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force. 

Sources had told SaharaReporters that Gabriel’s arrest was personally ordered by IGP Egbetokun over statements the social media critic made in his videos.

Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters identified IGP Egbetokun as both the complainant and the driving force behind the case.

The two-count charge against Gabriel accuses him of making defamatory remarks against the police chief and the Lagos State governor.