June 12: Falana, Falz, CSOs Declare Nationwide Protest Over Insecurity, Hardship

June 12: Falana, Falz, CSOs Declare Nationwide Protest Over Insecurity, Hardship

A grand coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) , trade unions, youth groups, community associations, and prominent activists has declared June 12, 2026 – Nigeria’s Democracy Day – a day of nationwide protest and mass action against worsening insecurity, economic hardship, and deteriorating living conditions across the country. The coalition, which includes human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) , popular musician and activist Folarin Falana (Falz) , the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) , the Joint Action Front (JAF) , the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) , the #EndBadGovernance Movement , and several other labour, socialist, and community-based organisations, said Nigerians have little to celebrate as the country marks Democracy Day amid growing poverty, hunger, and insecurity. The coalition stated: “The Nigerian people deserve a government that places the protection of lives and property at the centre of governance.”

The coalition has cited two major grievances driving the planned nationwide protest: worsening insecurity and deepening economic hardship. In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition condemned what it called the alarming impunity by terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers operating across Oyo, Borno, Katsina, Kwara, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and other states. The group expressed solidarity with victims of violent attacks and families of those abducted by criminal gangs, calling for immediate efforts to secure the release of all Nigerians currently being held captive in various parts of the country. The coalition is demanding the immediate release of all Nigerians held captive by criminal groups, stressing that the protection of lives and property must remain the primary responsibility of government. According to the coalition, repeated assurances by government officials that insecurity is being defeated have not translated into improved safety for citizens, as many communities remain vulnerable to attacks, farmers cannot safely access their farmlands, schools continue to face security threats, and major highways remain dangerous for commuters. “This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians,” the coalition stated.

Beyond security concerns, the coalition also highlighted the economic difficulties confronting many Nigerians. The statement criticised economic policies under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, including the removal of fuel subsidies, currency devaluation, and rising electricity tariffs. According to the coalition, these measures have led to skyrocketing food prices, unbearable transportation costs, and the collapse of small businesses, despite increased government allocations to federal, state, and local governments. The coalition argued that the removal of fuel subsidy, repeated increases in petrol prices, Naira devaluation, rising electricity tariffs, and the commercialisation of essential services have deepened poverty and hardship among Nigerians. “Food prices have skyrocketed. Transportation costs have become unbearable. Small and medium-scale businesses are collapsing under the combined burden of expensive fuel, unstable electricity and declining purchasing power,” the coalition statement read. The coalition further noted that workers’ earnings have not kept pace with inflation, leaving many households under increasing financial pressure.

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The statement declared emphatically: “Enough of the killings. Enough of the kidnappings. Enough of the hunger. Enough of the suffering.” The coalition called on workers, students, traders, artisans, market women, professionals, unemployed youths, religious organisations, trade unions, and community groups to mobilise for the nationwide demonstration in their various communities, workplaces, campuses, and neighbourhoods. Describing the planned demonstration as a struggle for the welfare and security of ordinary Nigerians, the coalition urged civil society organisations and progressive groups to unite in demanding the release of all captives and improved living conditions for citizens. The group maintained that despite repeated assurances from authorities, insecurity remains a major concern in many parts of the country, with schools, farming communities, and major highways continuing to face security threats.

The coalition outlined several key demands that will be presented during the June 12 nationwide protest. These include the immediate release of all Nigerians held captive by criminal groups in Oyo, Borno, Katsina, Kwara, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and other states; concrete government action to tackle terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping; disclosure of how trillions of naira allocated to security have been utilised over the last three years; reversal of “anti-poor” economic policies, including fuel subsidy removal and electricity tariff hikes; and policies aimed at reducing food prices, transportation costs, and improving workers’ wages.

The statement was signed by at least 15 leaders, including: Femi Falana (SAN), National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB); Folarin Falana (Falz), musician and activist; Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Organising Committee of the #EndBadGovernance Movement; Yinka Folarin, National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR); Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Organising Secretary of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement; Adaramoye Michael, National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign (YRC); Segun Oladunni of the Joint Action Front (JAF); Abiodun Olamosu, General Secretary of Socialist Labour; Jonathan Ugbal, Lead of the Calabar Group of Socialists; Richard Inoyo, Country Director of Citizens Solution Network; Salako Kayode of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement; Omole Ibukun of the Centre for Creative Change; and other labour and civil society leaders.

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In Osun State, a coalition of civil society organisations, activists, and trade union groups has declared support for the nationwide protest. The coalition, operating under the banner of the Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, announced plans to stage a peaceful protest in Osogbo on Friday, June 12, 2026. According to the Osun coalition, the protest will begin at Aiyetoro Junction in Osogbo, with participants expected to assemble by 8:30 a.m. The coalition urged workers, youths, artisans, market men and women, professionals, and other residents of the state to participate in the protest peacefully. The group appealed to security agencies not to obstruct citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.

The planned protest comes amid growing calls from political figures for the federal government to take more decisive action on security. Atiku Abubakar , presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has called on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in security to empower commanders with more freedom to act decisively and proactively against terrorists and other criminal elements. Atiku expressed concern that terrorists and bandits’ attacks were now targeted not only at wasting precious human lives but also at crippling the country’s education system. He cited the May 15 abduction of about 90 schoolchildren in Oriire, Oyo State, where the principal was beheaded. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) also called on President Tinubu to declare a national security emergency, warning that escalating violence, kidnappings, and bandit attacks across the country pose a serious threat to Nigeria’s stability and economic wellbeing. The NEF stated that kidnapping-for-ransom has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise driven by weak law enforcement, porous borders, illegal arms proliferation, and inadequate intelligence coordination among security agencies.

June 12 is observed as Democracy Day in Nigeria, commemorating the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely regarded as the freest and fairest in the nation’s history, in honour of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola. However, the coalition of CSOs argues that there is little to celebrate this year as many citizens continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, inflation, and declining living standards. The organisers said June 12 was deliberately chosen because of its significance in Nigeria’s democratic history, adding that Democracy Day provides an opportunity for citizens to peacefully express their concerns and demand action on issues affecting their daily lives. The groups behind the mobilisation insist that the protest will be peaceful and conducted within the bounds of the law.

As preparations continue, attention is now focused on how many Nigerians will participate in the demonstration. The development is expected to make this year’s Democracy Day one of the most closely watched in recent years. The coalition has called on citizens across the country to join the mass action, stating: “The time has come for Nigerians to speak with one voice and demand security, dignity and a decent standard of living.” All eyes will be on the federal, state, and local government authorities to see how they respond to the planned action, as well as on the security agencies tasked with maintaining order while respecting citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly. Key events in this developing story include: on May 15, 2026, about 90 schoolchildren were abducted in Oriire, Oyo State, with the principal beheaded; on June 9-10, 2026, the coalition of CSOs issued a statement declaring June 12 a nationwide protest; on June 12, 2026, the nationwide protest is planned across Nigeria coinciding with Democracy Day, with the Osun State protest scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Aiyetoro Junction, Osogbo. Key details to remember: the primary demands include release of captives, improved security, economic relief, and reversal of anti-poor policies; key organisers include Femi Falana (SAN), Falz, CDHR, JAF, YRC, and the #EndBadGovernance Movement; affected states include Oyo, Borno, Katsina, Kwara, Ekiti, Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger; political figures including Atiku and the Northern Elders Forum have called for a security emergency declaration; and the government has yet to issue an official statement on the protest. This is a developing story. More details will be provided as information becomes available from protest organisers and government authorities.

June 12: Falana, Falz, CSOs Declare Nationwide Protest Over Insecurity, Hardship