Take It Back Movement Fixes August 5 Nationwide Protest

The Take It Back Movement has announced plans to hold a nationwide protest on August 5, 2026, as part of its campaign against insecurity, economic hardship, alleged political repression and what it described as the shrinking democratic space under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The group disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday by its National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, while urging Nigerians from different walks of life to take part in the demonstration tagged Festival of the Oppressed.

According to the movement, the protest is intended to give citizens an opportunity to express their concerns over the country’s social, economic and political challenges.

It said insecurity remains a serious problem, claiming that many Nigerians are still being held by kidnappers and armed groups. The organisation also pointed to repeated attacks in states such as Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Oyo, Kaduna and Benue as evidence that many communities continue to face threats.

The group also linked the country’s rising cost of living to the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023 and the continued decline in the value of the naira. It said these developments have pushed up inflation, making food, transportation and other basic needs too expensive for many families.

The movement further accused the government of using the Cybercrime Act against journalists, activists, students, labour leaders and other citizens who express opinions critical of public officials.

It argued that the law has increasingly been used to arrest and prosecute people for exercising their right to free expression. The organisation also claimed that political opponents have faced persecution, warning that democracy cannot thrive where opposing views are treated as offences.

It maintained that workers across different sectors, including members of the armed forces, police officers, teachers, nurses and civil servants, deserve better pay to match the current economic realities. The group also condemned repeated xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa and called for stronger protection for Nigerians and other Africans residing in different countries on the continent.

Among its demands, the movement called for improved security across the country, the rescue of kidnapped victims, the release of political detainees, the repeal of the Cybercrime Act, the introduction of a ₦500,000 national minimum wage, measures to reduce the rising cost of living, the withdrawal of charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, the removal of Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the dismissal of the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi, and greater protection of Nigeria’s sovereignty.

The organisation described the planned protest as a gathering for workers, students, traders, professionals, farmers, journalists and other Nigerians who believe their concerns have not received enough attention. It said history has shown that citizens must continue to apply lawful democratic pressure whenever they seek change from those in authority.

The movement ended its statement by calling on Nigerians to prepare for a peaceful demonstration on August 5. It urged people in different communities to organise and participate peacefully, insisting that its demands are based on the need for better governance, improved living conditions and the protection of citizens’ rights.