Nigeria: Oyo Abduction - Take-It-Back Movement Protests Kidnapping of Pupils, Demands Action On Insecurity

The protesters gathered at Mokola Roundabout under the banner of the "Bring Back Our Pupils and Teachers" campaign, demanding the immediate release of all kidnapped victims and stronger measures against kidnappers and other criminal groups.

Members of the Take-It-Back (TIB) Movement on Monday staged a protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, over the abduction of pupils and teachers in the recent Ogbomoso axis of the state, calling on the government to take urgent steps to tackle rising insecurity.

The demonstration followed the recent abduction of pupils and teachers on 15 Ma when armed men riding motorcycles attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

According to the police, the assailants stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esiele, abducting pupils and teachers before fleeing into nearby forests.

Governor Seyi Makinde later disclosed that 39 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped during the attacks. He also said one of the abducted teachers had been killed, while some members of a joint rescue team comprising soldiers, police officers and local vigilantes sustained injuries after encountering explosives allegedly planted by the kidnappers during rescue operations.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Oyo State Coordinator, Dimeji Salako, the movement said residents were protesting because they were tired of seeing their loved ones get killed, tired of living in fear, and tired of kidnappings.

The group also rejected Governor Makinde's call on residents to replace the planned protest with prayers, insisting that insecurity requires concrete government action.

"We will not pray away insecurity. Prayer is not a substitute for governance. Prayer is not a security strategy. Prayer cannot replace intelligence gathering, effective policing, accountability, and decisive action against criminal elements," the group said.

According to the movement, citizens have a constitutional right to demand accountability when the government fails to adequately guarantee their security and welfare.

The group argued that residents should not be expected to remain silent while kidnappers continue to terrorise communities across the state.

"The people of Oyo State have prayed. They have exercised patience. They have waited, yet the menace of kidnapping and insecurity continues to cast a dark shadow over our communities," the statement said.

The protesters called for the immediate return of all abducted victims and urged authorities to strengthen intell