Members of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday staged a protest in Oyo State over the recent abduction of school pupils and teachers, calling for urgent government action to secure their release and address growing insecurity in the state.
The demonstrators, who gathered in major parts of the state capital, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Save Our Children,” “End Insecurity Now,” and “Bring Them Back Alive.” The protest drew attention from residents and commuters as participants marched peacefully, urging authorities to act swiftly.
Speaking during the protest, some of the organizers expressed deep concern over the increasing cases of kidnappings targeting schools, noting that such incidents have created fear among parents and disrupted academic activities. They warned that continued inaction could worsen the situation and further endanger lives.
The group called on both the state and federal governments to intensify security operations, deploy more personnel to vulnerable communities, and strengthen intelligence gathering to prevent future attacks. They also urged security agencies to ensure the safe and immediate rescue of the abducted victims without harm.
Residents who joined or witnessed the protest echoed similar concerns, describing the situation as alarming and urging authorities to prioritize the safety of students and teachers across the state.
As of the time of filing this report, officials of the Oyo State Government have yet to issue a detailed response regarding the protest. However, security agencies are reportedly working to track down the perpetrators and secure the release of those abducted.
The incident adds to a growing list of school-related kidnappings across parts of Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about the safety of educational institutions and the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms.
