June 12 Protests: Abuja Residents Demand End To Insecurity, Hunger Under Tinubu Administration

Led by the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, demonstrators in Abuja gathered to express their frustration and demand urgent government action.

Residents of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, joined their counterparts across the country on Thursday to protest worsening economic hardship, insecurity, hunger, and what they described as anti-people policies under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Led by the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement, demonstrators in Abuja gathered to express their frustration and demand urgent government action.

The protest coincided with Democracy Day, a date that commemorates Nigeria’s return to civilian rule and the historic June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Addressing the crowd, Rex Elanu, the Federal Capital Territory Coordinator of the TIB Movement, declared, “The reason we are out today is because we have a government that has failed us—one that has forgotten about the welfare of the people, that has ignored the security of lives and property, and is instead busy chasing the 2027 elections.”

He highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Benue and Plateau states, lamenting the silence from government officials amid ongoing killings.

“People are dying of hunger across Nigeria, yet they are afraid to speak up or protest. The government is known for repression—arresting, jailing, and even killing peaceful protesters, and charging minors with treason. But that will not stop us today,” Elenu said.

He called out both President Tinubu and Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, urging them to prioritise the protection of citizens.

“Hunger is killing people. Injustice is killing people. And yet, people are too afraid to exercise their fundamental rights because the illegal Inspector General of Police has been arresting and brutalising protesters. It cannot continue like this,” he said.

SaharaReporters earlier reported that similar protests took place in several other states, including Lagos, Oyo, and Ondo.

In Lagos, protesters gathered under the Ikeja Bridge, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards demanding accountability and improved living conditions. The Lagos State Police Command deployed officers to the protest site, with SP Benjamin Hundeyin assuring the public that there was “no cause for alarm.”

In Akure, the capital of Ondo State, members of the movement rallied at Cathedral Junction, calling on Nigerians to become more socially conscious and to actively participate in democratic processes. In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, protesters gathered at Mokola Roundabout, echoing similar messages.

June 12 has increasingly become a day of civic engagement and protest, with citizens using the occasion to draw attention to systemic failures, including poverty, rising inflation, unemployment, and insecurity.

This year’s protests reflect growing national discontent over economic pressures, including the controversial removal of fuel subsidies, food inflation, and the high cost of living.

The Take-It-Back Movement, known for its vocal opposition to the Tinubu administration, has consistently called for pro-people reforms and improved governance that centres on the welfare and rights of Nigerians.

WATCH: June 12 Protests: Abuja Residents Demand End To Insecurity, Hunger Under Tinubu Administration pic.twitter.com/rhDSA4L3tB

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) June 12, 2025