Residents of Ibadan on Monday took to the streets to protest the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, calling for urgent government action to secure their release.
The protest began at Mokola Roundabout and later moved through major parts of the city toward Agodi Gate and the Oyo State Government Secretariat. It was organised by the Oyo State chapter of the Take-It-Back Movement and attracted parents of victims, students, and concerned residents.
Demonstrators carried placards with messages demanding the release of the abducted victims and stronger action on insecurity. Some of the inscriptions read calls for an end to school kidnappings and improved protection of lives across the country.
One of the protesters, Esther Olowookere, said families were living in fear since the incident and accused authorities of not doing enough to prioritise rescue efforts. She said the emotional strain on parents had become unbearable and warned that continued insecurity could influence public participation in future elections.
“They should give us peace of mind. Otherwise, we will not participate in the forthcoming elections,” she said.
A member of the Take-It-Back Movement, Soneye AbdulAzeez, said the abduction reflected deeper structural problems, including unemployment and weak social protection. He argued that insecurity could not be addressed through military response alone, stressing the need for broader economic reforms.
He added that rising poverty and joblessness increase vulnerability to recruitment by armed groups, warning that security spending without social intervention would not produce lasting results.
Governor of Oyo State Seyi Makinde had on Sunday urged residents not to proceed with protests, saying such actions could interfere with ongoing rescue efforts. He appealed for calm and stated that security agencies were working to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
At the federal level, Bola Tinubu has continued to direct security agencies to intensify efforts against kidnapping and other violent crimes amid growing concerns over attacks in parts of the country.
As of the time of filing this report, the protesters were heading toward the Oyo State Government Secretariat in continuation of their demonstration.
The abduction in Oriire occurred on May 15 when armed attackers kidnapped several pupils and teachers, triggering widespread concern across the state.
