The Ondo State Police Command has issued a stern warning to residents, urging them to avoid participating in the planned ‘Take It Back Movement’ protest scheduled for Monday, April 7, 2025. This warning comes as part of broader efforts to maintain security stability in the state. According to DSP Ayanlade Olushola, the Police Public Relations Officer, the command acknowledges the constitutional rights of citizens to peaceful assembly but is concerned about the timing of the protest due to prevailing security challenges.
The police are worried that the gathering could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements, potentially leading to a breakdown of law and order. This concern is heightened by the recent security gains achieved in Ondo State, which the police are keen to preserve. As a result, the command is urging the leadership of the ‘Take It Back Movement’ and its supporters to engage in constructive dialogue rather than street protests, which might escalate tensions.
In response to the planned protest, the Ondo Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, has directed the deployment of additional personnel and operational assets to strategic locations across the state. This move aims to prevent any disruption of public order and ensure the safety of citizens. Despite these warnings, protests by the ‘Take It Back Movement’ have proceeded in other parts of the country, including Abuja and Lagos, where demonstrators have defied police warnings to stage their rallies
