Residents of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday blocked vehicular movement at the Iwo Road interstate transit hub in protest over the prolonged captivity of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of the state since May 15.

The protest, led by members of the Oyo State Take-It-Back Movement, commenced at 10 a.m. amid the presence of security operatives, including the Amotekun Corps, the Nigeria Police Force and Operation Burst personnel.

The protest procession, which was stationed at the Iwo Road main roundabout, disrupted movement of road users heading towards areas such as Gbagi-Oja, Ojoo, Olodo, Gate and other adjoining locations.

A banner conveying the protesters’ demands, seen by the Peoples Gazette, called for an end to kidnapping in the state, safer roads and communities, as well as stronger protection for farmers, traders, students and families.

The state’s TIB coordinator, Dimeji Salako, said the essence of the #BringBackOurChildrenTeachers demonstration was to demand an end to the spate of insecurity across the country.

Mr Salako stated, “The essence of the protest is to demand an end to insecurity in Oyo State and Nigeria at large. Also, the Makinde-led Oyo State government and the Tinubu-led federal government must immediately rescue the Ogbomoso kidnap victims after 38 days in the kidnappers’ den. Enough is enough.”

The coordinator stated that the demonstration, aimed at demanding the safe rescue of the schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in the state, would continue until the victims are rescued.

Similarly, the TIB acting secretary, Musediq Ramon, said the protest was convened to demand either the safe rescue of all the pupils and teachers or the resignation of concerned government authorities.

“Two things, first, we demand that our students and teachers be rescued immediately by every means possible. Secondly, we demand that President Tinubu and Governor Makinde should resign, if they cannot perform their primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of our people,” Mr Ramon said.

“We have issued an ultimatum to both the federal and state governments. As I speak to you, mobilisation and conscientisation are ongoing. The plan is to have a lockdown similar to what happened during the coronavirus pandemic in 2021,” he added.

A protester, Timileyin Olasunkanmi, told the Gazette that he joined the demonstration to denounce how governments at both the federal and subnational levels have abdicated the duty of protecting citizens’ lives.

Mr Olasunkanmi said the failure to protect citizens’ lives was made evident with the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire LGA, stating that “the government has done nothing spectacular to secure their (the victims) unconditional release.”

“It was for this very reason that patriotic Nigerians decided to show their displeasure in the way Governor Makinde and President Tinubu are handling the matter. Our demands are very clear and succinct,” the protester stated.

Commenting, Omowumi Abraham, who travelled from Lagos to Ibadan to participate in the demonstration, said the deteriorating security situation in the country deserved the declaration of a state of emergency by the government.

“The protest is necessary to put the government on their toes. As a matter of fact and urgency, a state of emergency should be declared in Nigeria because this is getting out of hand,” Ms Abraham said.

“Prayer without action has never brought any abducted child home. Keeping silent in the name of trusting the government, while they do nothing, means very little when parents have spent weeks waiting for their children and teachers to return.”

“The government should know that there is no peace in the land and there won’t be peace until those children and teachers return home safely. They need to act now!” she stated.

The residents’ demonstration followed the attack on the Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire LGA and the abduction of 39 pupils and seven staff, who have since spent 38 days in captivity as of June 22.

Last Tuesday, the state’s governor, Seyi Makinde, said the fate of the pupils and teachers abducted by suspected gunmen would not become another Chibok episode, when terrorists kidnapped schoolgirls in Borno State in April 2014.

Addressing protesters led by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan, Mr Makinde stated that the teachers and pupils were alive and that a rescue operation was ongoing and sensitive.

Mr Makinde stated, “I give you the assurance that I, as the Governor of Oyo State, by God’s grace, we will bring out our children. They are talking to us. It is not something I would normally do. If the government starts negotiating with bandits, it means we are surrendering our sovereignty to the bandits.”

“But in this special situation, if we want those children alive, we have to bend backwards. Once the children are out, I give you the assurance that it will not occur again in Oyo State,” the governor said.