On Monday, youths in Osun State, under the #Take-It-Back Movement, took to the streets of Osogbo to protest against the Cyber Crime Act, calling for its repeal.
The demonstrators criticized the law, arguing that it would infringe on the nation’s freedom of speech.
Carrying large banners, some of which read “Join The Protest To Repeal The Cyber Crime Act,” the protesters marched through major areas of the state capital, including Olaiya Junction, Old Garage, Oja-Oba, and Station Road, urging Nigerians to stand against the law.
Security personnel were deployed to maintain law and order during the protest.
The demonstrators declared they would continue their peaceful protest until the Act was repealed.
Lijofi Victor, the Coordinator of the Osun Take It Back Movement, addressed journalists and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reverse the Act.
“We are out today because of the recent Cyber Crime Act, we are against it because we want our freedom of speech,” Victor said.
“Many people have been imprisoned because they are speaking up, which we are saying no to.”
Victor also pointed out that President Tinubu, who had led protests and voiced criticism in the past, should understand the importance of free speech.
“The Mr. President himself has led a series of protests and has talked and criticized certain things, but right now, they want to silence us, which we are saying no to,” he added.
“We are not going to accept that until when he is ready to change it. Help us to remove the Cyber Act and give us the freedom of speech that we want. We want to speak out, we don’t want anybody to imprison us, we want to have the autonomy of our speech.”
Victor also lamented that many Nigerians have faced arrest and imprisonment because of the Act, calling it an affront to democracy.
“A whole lot of journalists, security agents, and civilians have been arrested across the country because they are speaking up, now they are bringing an act that will back it up so you can jail us? We are saying no to it.”
“We converged here at Olaiya, marched through Station Road, Oja Oba, and back to Olaiya. We continue the protest as long as they are ready to listen to us,” he concluded.
