The Take-It-Back Movement has condemned what it described as a surge in unlawful raids and arrests carried out by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Task Force, accusing security operatives of engaging in intimidation, extortion and what it termed “organised kidnapping under the cover of uniform.”

In a statement dated December 18, 2025, titled “An End to Kidnapping Disguised as Police Raiding in Lagos State,” the movement alleged that innocent citizens across the state were being illegally arrested, forced into unregistered vehicles and handed over to task force operatives for the purpose of extortion.

“These actions are not law enforcement,” the group said. “They are acts of intimidation, harassment, and organised kidnapping carried out under the guise of official duty.”

The movement cited several incidents said to have occurred on the night of December 17, including the arrest of one of its members, Dare Fowokan, at a bus stop in Ikorodu. According to the statement, Fowokan was waiting for his wife, had committed no offence and exhibited no suspicious behaviour when he was allegedly forcefully bundled into an unmarked bus by officers attached to the Ijede Police Division.

The group claimed that Fowokan was later handed over to task force operatives the following morning, which it described as evidence that the operation was “never about justice but about exploitation.”

In another incident, the movement alleged that a member was raided at Egbeda Bus Stop by police officers attached to Moshalashi, Lagos, without any lawful justification.

The statement also detailed the alleged arrest of Mr. Ope Martins and his three sisters, who were reportedly apprehended after stopping at a Point of Sale (POS) outlet to withdraw cash.

“They were picked up in a Gestapo-like manner and driven away in an unregistered vehicle, while Mr. Martins’ car was abandoned by the roadside,” the group said. It added that the victims were taken to the task force office in Oshodi, stressing that their only “crime” was exercising their constitutional right to free movement.

According to the movement, these incidents were part of a broader pattern, noting that many citizens were arrested across different locations under the excuse of “general raids,” without warrants, reasonable suspicion or respect for human dignity.

“We state clearly: this is kidnapping in the name of raiding, and it must stop,” the statement declared.

Warning of the broader implications, the group said a society where citizens fear security agencies is “a society on the brink.” It called on the Nigeria Police Force to immediately halt the alleged illegal operations, investigate officers involved and ensure accountability.

“Law enforcement must return to lawful policing, not extortion, terror and abuse of power,” the group said, adding that it would not remain silent in the face of such actions.

The statement was signed by Adekunle Adeyemi Taofeek (Scotty Aluta), Lagos State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement.

In a separate statement issued for immediate release, the group said it was “appalled by the recent spate of unlawful arrests and alleged extortion” by the police and the Lagos State Task Force, claiming that numerous individuals had been detained across Lagos within a 24-hour period.

The movement described the actions as a “gross abuse of power, violation of human rights and betrayal of public trust,” and urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the head of the Task Force to immediately put an end to the alleged practices.

It further demanded a thorough investigation into the allegations and insisted that all those found responsible must be held accountable.