Hundreds of demonstrators on Monday staged a protest along the busy Iwo Road axis in Ibadan, Oyo State, calling for the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The protest led to traffic disruption, leaving commuters, transporters and other road users stranded for several hours as movement was partially blocked in the area.
The protesters blocked a section of the road, carrying banners and placards urging government authorities and security agencies to act swiftly to secure the release of the victims and address rising insecurity in the state.
With loud music playing from speakers mounted on an open-back vehicle, they were seen singing and dancing while pressing for urgent intervention in the rescue effort.
Some Muslim participants also observed afternoon prayers on the road during the protest, offering prayers for the safe return of the abductees and an end to kidnapping and other criminal activities across Oyo State.
A banner displayed at the scene read: “Government Must Act – End Kidnapping in Oyo State.”
The protesters also demanded safer roads and communities, protection for farmers, traders, students and families, and the restoration of peace, security and justice.
Placards at the protest carried inscriptions such as “Free the Ogbomoso Kidnapped Victims,” “Oyo Is Bleeding,” and “End Insecurity Now.”
Some participants expressed concern over what they described as a growing wave of kidnappings in parts of the state, warning that residents were increasingly living in fear due to criminal activities.
They called on the Oyo State Government, security agencies and other stakeholders to intensify rescue operations and strengthen the security architecture to prevent further abductions.
Security personnel were deployed to monitor the protest and maintain order as the gathering drew the attention of motorists, commuters and traders in the area.
The demonstrators insisted that the swift rescue of the abducted Oriire pupils and teachers must remain a top priority, stressing the need for urgent action to restore public confidence in the state’s security system.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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