The Kwara State Chapter of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement has strongly condemned a violent attack on its members during a peaceful protest held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Ilorin.
The protest, organized to draw attention to the worsening insecurity in Kwara North and Kwara South, was disrupted by government-backed thugs led by two Special Assistants to the state government.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, the State Coordinator of the movement, Comrade Musa Saidu Tsaragi, recounted the events that marred the demonstration, describing the incident as both shameful and a gross violation of democratic rights.
According to Tsaragi, the protest began peacefully and was gaining media attention when, at exactly 9:28 a.m., armed thugs stormed the venue.
He stated that the attackers were led and coordinated by the Special Assistant on Security and the Special Assistant on Social Investment to the Kwara State Government, who were seen arriving in a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
“This movement stands for democracy, accountability, and good governance,” said Tsaragi. “It is both disappointing and dangerous for state officials to openly align themselves with thugs to silence the voices of concerned citizens.”
Following the violent disruption, Comrade Tsaragi and several other activists were taken into custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Ilorin.
He revealed that they were only released after the intervention of the state’s Commissioner of Police. However, the activists were forced to delete video evidence of the incident from their mobile devices — a move Tsaragi condemned as a violation of their fundamental rights and freedom of expression.
In a bid to divert attention from the core issues raised during the protest, Tsaragi said government agents have begun spreading false allegations, accusing the movement of working for the opposition.
“Let me be clear: I was among those who campaigned for this very government in 2019,” he stated. “But today, our communities are under siege, and we cannot remain silent while our people are being kidnapped and slaughtered.”
The movement highlighted the rising wave of violence across Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas, where over 100 lives have been lost in recent months due to clashes between local vigilantes and armed bandits.
The most recent attack occurred just a day before the protest, when gunmen stormed Edogi Chapa village and kidnapped two women.
Tsaragi emphasized that the protest was not driven by partisan interest but by the need to protect the lives and property of ordinary Kwarans. “This movement is not about me,” he said. “It is about the survival of our people and our constitutional right to live in peace and security.”
The TIB Kwara Chapter reaffirmed its commitment to non-violence and democratic advocacy, vowing not to be silenced by intimidation. Tsaragi demand that the state government investigate the incident and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
“We will continue to raise our voices,” Tsaragi concluded. “If those in power are afraid to speak up, we will not back down from defending our people.”
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