Anger boiled over in Ibadan on Monday as residents flooded the streets to protest the ongoing captivity of pupils and teachers kidnapped in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, demonstrators issued a stark warning to authorities: resolve the security crisis or face a total boycott of the 2027 elections.
Organized by the Oyo State chapter of the Take-It-Back Movement, the demonstration drew a passionate crowd of distraught parents, students, and civic-minded residents.
READ MORE: Oyo State defies terrorists after Oriire School kidnapping
The march kicked off at the bustling Mokola Roundabout before winding its way through the heart of the city toward Agodi Gate, ultimately heading for the Oyo State Government Secretariat.
Protesters held aloft placards demanding the immediate release of the captives and calling for definitive government intervention to halt the rising tide of insecurity. Many signs directly pleaded for an end to school abductions and demanded better protection for citizens nationwide.
The human toll of the crisis was palpable among the marchers. One of the protesters, Esther Olowookere, voiced the agonizing reality families have faced since the May 15 ambush, accusing the government of treating the rescue operations with a lack of urgency.
She noted that the psychological trauma has pushed parents to their breaking point, threatening that their frustration would manifest at the ballot box.
“They should give us peace of mind. Otherwise, we will not participate in the forthcoming elections,” she said.
Activists present at the rally emphasized that the security breakdown is deeply intertwined with Nigeria’s economic struggles.
Soneye AbdulAzeez, a member of the Take-It-Back Movement, argued that heavy-handed military tactics are a temporary band-aid on a systemic issue fueled by poverty and unemployment.
He warned that rising poverty and joblessness increase vulnerability to recruitment by armed groups, adding that security spending without social intervention would not produce lasting results.
The massive street demonstration went ahead despite pleas from the state leadership. On Sunday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had urged residents to shelve the protest, arguing that public demonstrations could jeopardize the delicate, ongoing rescue operations.
While appealing for calm, the governor maintained that security forces are actively working to bring the teachers and children home safely. Meanwhile, at the federal level, President Bola Tinubu has consistently ordered security agencies to step up the fight against kidnapping and violent crime across the nation.
The crisis stems from a May 15 raid in Oriire, where armed bandits intercepted and abducted several students and educators, throwing the entire state into a panic.
As of Monday afternoon, the determined crowd of protesters was still marching toward the state secretariat, refusing to back down until their voices were heard.
