The Take It Back Movement convened a global press conference at Dover Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, to address the oppressive Nigeria’s Cybercrime Act of 2024.
The movement voiced concerns over the act’s misuse by the current Tinubu-led APC regime to silence opposing voices, including journalists, and social media users.
The press conference led by the National Coordinator of the movement Comrade Sanyaolu Juwon, and many other prominent leaders from various states across Nigeria, including Agba Jalingo, Rex Elanu, Femi Adeyeye, Chioma Ifemeludike, KAYODE Babayomi, Shadrack Danladi, Jonathan Abang, and numerous others, joined forces at a global press conference.
Citing numerous cases of political persecution and targeted attacks on journalists and activists, such as Dele Farotimi, Olamide Thomas, Olumide Ogunsanwo, and Fisayo Soyombo, the Take It Back Movement asserts that the Cybercrime Act has been systematically employed to criminalize dissent and undermine freedom of expression, “Looking at the chain of events, the Cybercrime Act has not been an Act about combating cybercrime; it is a weapon of mass suppression, a digital shackling, designed to silence Nigerians who dare to challenge the corrupt and illegitimate powers that be, including opposition voices, journalists, and young people freely expressing their opinions on TikTok, and twitter.
“Leader, and founder of our oganization has been repeatedly hounded using this infamous act. Dele Farotimi, Olamide Thomas, Olumide Ogunsanwo, and Fisayo Soyombo are few of the numerous victims of this repressive act”.
In response to this oppressive climate, the movement also issued several demands:
- The immediate and unconditional repeal of the Cybercrime Act to safeguard the rights enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.
- An end to the harassment and persecution of activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens under the guise of enforcing cybercrime laws.
- A call to Nigerians to resist any attempts to suppress digital spaces and promote a free platform for the expression of diverse thoughts and opinions.
The Take It Back Movement vows to continue its fight for a Nigeria where freedom of expression is upheld as a fundamental right and is organizing a series of protest actions and mass demonstrations to pressure the government into repealing the controversial Cybercrime Act, “As a pro people movement, we, today, declare that this Act is an affront to the fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution and a blatant violation of the freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that is the lifeblood of any true democracy.”
“This regime which is clearly terrified by the truth, seeks to criminalize dissent, labeling every critical voice as a “cybercriminal.”
“We say: ENOUGH to an Act that is not just deadly but gives the Tinubu regime excessive power to monitor and control the digital space, turning Nigeria into a surveillance state.”
“Fellow Nigerians, the Cybercrime Act is a tool for silencing, oppressing, and intimidate Nigerians who report on the regime’s failures and atrocities.
Today, we make the following demands:
We DEMAND the immediate and unconditional REPEAL of the Cybercrime Act. This oppressive law has no place in a free and just society.”
The National Coordinator added stating that, “We DEMAND an immediate end to the persecution of activists, journalists, and citizens under the guise of Enforcing Cybercrime.”
“We CALL on Nigerians to resist all attempts to turn our digital spaces into zones of oppression. We stand for a free digital space for all to express their thoughts. Accordingly, we will be calling out Nigerians for series of protest actions, mass demonstrations until until this oppressive Act is consigned to the dustbin of history.
“We will continue to fight for a Nigeria where freedom of expression is not a privilege, but a fundamental right.”
SEE A COPY OF THE PRESS STATEMENT BELOW:
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