Protesters block road in Oyo over insecurity, demand Oriire abductees’ release
By Adejayan Gbenga
Protesters on Monday barricaded major roads around the popular Iwo Road axis of Ibadan, Oyo State, causing heavy traffic congestion as they demanded urgent action to address insecurity and secure the release of abducted schoolchildren.
The demonstration brought movement around the busy roundabout to a standstill, leaving commuters and motorists stranded for several hours as protesters occupied key access routes in the area.
The protesters, who converged on the location from about 10 a.m., were led by members of the Take It Back Movement, a human rights advocacy group.
They called on the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as other victims of kidnapping across the country.
According to the group, the protest was a continuation of earlier campaigns launched following the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in May. They argued that authorities had not done enough to secure the freedom of those still being held by their captors.
Speaking during the demonstration, one of the movement’s leaders, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest would continue until all abducted victims regained their freedom, stressing that the safety of citizens should remain a priority for government at all levels.
The protesters also criticised political leaders for focusing on future electoral contests while insecurity continued to threaten lives and livelihoods across the country. They urged authorities to take decisive steps to curb the rising cases of kidnapping and violent attacks.
The group maintained that insecurity had become a national challenge requiring collective action and sustained attention. It said the choice of Iwo Road for the protest was deliberate because of its proximity to the area where the abduction reportedly occurred. As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the protest.
