The Oyo State chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has announced plans to embark on a protest on Friday to demand a prompt rescue of recently abducted pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by the party chairman, Kayode Babayomi, on Tuesday, said the protest was necessary amid the wave of abduction and climate of fear in the state.

Mr Babayomi faulted Governor Seyi Makinde’s handling of insecurity in the state, noting that the safety of ordinary citizens must be a priority.

“It is time for us to wake up, it is time for us to rise, we cannot continue to fold our arms while innocent children are abducted and the people live in fear. Enough is enough,” Mr Babayomi said.

“If these children were from wealthy or politically connected families, they would have been rescued by now or perhaps they would never have been abducted in the first place, the safety of the ordinary citizens matter,” he said.

The party chairman accused Mr Makinde-led administration of issuing mere statements, without corresponding concrete actions that would ensure the quick release of the victims.

He stated that the school abduction incident reflected ‘the growing vulnerability of ordinary and downtrodden people in Ogbomoso and across Oyo State.’’

He added that public sympathy only cannot fix the spate of insecurity in the state.

Mr Babayomi stated, “We believe this tragedy reflects the growing vulnerability of ordinary and downtrodden people in Ogbomoso and across Oyo State and negligence of state security.”

“We sympathise deeply with all affected families, but sympathy alone is not enough. We must rise together and demand immediate rescue efforts and lasting security solutions.”

Mr Babayomi called on the National Union of Teachers (NUT), students, civil society groups and the general public to actively participate in a demonstration to demand the pupils and teachers’ immediate release.

According to the statement, the protest will hold at Mokola area in Ibadan.