Youths in Osun State under the umbrella of the #Take-It-Back Movement on Monday trooped out in protest against the Cyber Crime Act, calling for its repeal.
The demonstrators took to the major streets of Osogbo, the capital of the state, castigating the act, saying it would erode the nation’s freedom of speech.
Armed with big banners, some of which bore inscriptions such as “Join The Protest To Repeal The Cyber Crime Act,” they moved from Olaiya junction to Old Garage, Oja-Oba, and Station Road Areas of the state capital, urging Nigerians not to allow the law to stand.
Security operatives were on the ground to ensure law and order.
The protesters threatened to continue the peaceful demonstration until the Act was repealed.
Lijofi Victor, the Coordinator of the Osun Take It Back Movement while addressing journalists urged President Bola Tinubu to wade in and ensure that the Act is reversed.
He said, “We are out today because of the recent Cyber Crime Act, we are against it because we want our freedom of speech.
“Many people as been imprisoned because they are speaking up which we are saying no to.
“The Mr. President himself has led a series of protests and has talked and criticised certain things, but right now, they want to silence us, which we are saying no to.
“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.”
He lamented that many Nigerians have been arrested and imprisoned because of the Act, saying the development is anti-democracy.
According to him, “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.”