Despite heavy rainfall on Monday, protesters under the banner of the Take-It-Back Movement stormed the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan, demanding urgent action over rising insecurity and the continued detention of pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area by unknown gunmen.
The protest came more than two weeks after the incident, amid growing concern both within Nigeria and the diaspora, as Nigerians have repeatedly called on the Oyo State Government and President Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts through relevant security agencies to track down the perpetrators and ensure the safe return of the victims.
As gathered, the demonstrators first converged at Mokola Roundabout before marching through parts of the state capital to the Government House.
Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Security for all, not for a few,” “End kidnapping in Oyo State now,” and “Protect farmers, traders and students,” they described the protest as a civic duty aimed at drawing attention to the plight of affected families.
According to them, the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers has heightened fear across communities, making urgent government intervention necessary.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde have assured parents and families of the victims that security agencies have been fully mobilised to track down the abductors and rescue the victims safely.
Yesterday, President Tinubu also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and ordered the deployment of a specialised security squad to intensify rescue operations for the abducted pupils and teachers.
The measures were announced during a Federal Government delegation visit to Esiele and Yawota communities, where the kidnappers struck, abducting pupils and teachers from Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School.