TRAFFIC was partially disrupted along the busy Iwo Road axis of Ibadan on Monday as protesters blocked a part of the road, demanding the immediate rescue of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The demonstrators, who converged on a section of the road, carried banners and placards, calling on the state government and security agencies to take urgent steps to secure the victims’ release and tackle the growing wave of insecurity in the state.
During the protest, participants also observed prayers on the main road, seeking a divine intervention for the safe return of the pupils and their teachers, as well as an end to kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state.
Banners displayed on one of the vehicles at the protest venue read: ‘Government must act,’ ‘End kidnapping in Oyo State.’
Other inscriptions included: ‘Free the Ogbomoso kidnapped victims’, ‘Oyo is bleeding’, and ‘End insecurity now’.
The protesters listed their demands to include safer roads and communities, protection for farmers, traders, students and families, as well as the restoration of peace, security and justice.
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators and the state coordinator of ‘Take It Back’ movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, expressed concern over what he described as increasing cases of kidnapping in parts of the state, warning that residents now live in fear due to the activities of criminal elements.
“We cannot continue like this. Every day, there is news of abduction. Our children, teachers, farmers and traders are no longer safe,” he said.
He maintained that the swift rescue of the abducted Oriire pupils and teachers should remain a priority, insisting that every effort should be made to guarantee the safety of residents and restore public confidence in the state’s security architecture.
The demonstration attracted the attention of motorists, commuters and traders in the area, while security personnel monitored the gathering to ensure order.
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