Osun Civil Society Groups Declare June 12 Protest Over Insecurity, Economic Hardship

A coalition of civil society organisations, activists and trade union groups in Osun State have declared support for the planned nationwide June 12 protest against insecurity and what it described as worsening economic hardship in Nigeria.

The coalition, consisting of Centre for Sustained Dialogue, Osun Coalition of Civil Societies, Democratic Socialist Movement, Take It Back Movement, Federation of Informal Workers Organizations of Nigeria and several other advocacy organisations operate 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.

In a press release issued on Tuesday and signed by Kola Ibrahim, the group said the protest was aimed at drawing attention to the increasing cases of insecurity across the country and the economic challenges facing Nigerians.

According to the coalition, the protest is in response to what it described as the failure of governments at different levels to effectively tackle banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of criminality.

The coalition also criticised some economic policies of the government, describing them as anti-people and responsible for worsening living conditions among citizens.

“The protest is directed against bad governance, particularly anti-people economic policies that have made life increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians while creating conditions that make kidnapping and banditry lucrative criminal enterprises,” the statement read.

Among its demands, the coalition called for the immediate release of all abducted Nigerians, including schoolchildren and teachers reportedly kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area.

The group also demanded improved security across the country and accountability on funds allocated to defence and security over the last three years.

“Nigerians deserve to know how the trillions of naira allocated to security have been utilised,” the coalition stated.

The organisers further called for the reversal of policies they claimed had increased poverty and denied many Nigerians access to basic necessities such as food.

According to the statement, 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.

It also appealed to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), not to obstruct citizens exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.