Members of the Take-It-Back Movement on Monday staged a protest at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan, demanding urgent action to address rising insecurity and secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
Despite a heavy downpour, the protesters marched through major parts of the state capital, insisting that the worsening security situation required immediate intervention from both the state government and security agencies.
The demonstrators, who initially gathered at Mokola Roundabout before proceeding to the Government House, said the safety of residents, particularly schoolchildren and teachers, could no longer be ignored.
Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the protesters called for stronger security measures across schools, highways, farming communities and other vulnerable areas of the state.
Some of the placards displayed messages such as, “End Kidnapping in Oyo State Now,” “Security for All, Not for a Few,” “Protect Farmers, Traders and Students,” and “Safer Roads and Communities Now.”
The group described the demonstration as a civic responsibility aimed at drawing attention to the plight of victims and their families, stressing that remaining silent in the face of growing insecurity would amount to neglecting those affected.
According to the protesters, the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area has heightened fear among parents, educators and residents, particularly in rural communities where security concerns continue to escalate.
They urged the Oyo State Government to strengthen security around schools and communities vulnerable to criminal attacks, while also improving protection for farmers, traders, students and commuters whose daily activities have been disrupted by insecurity.
The protest follows widespread concern over the recent invasion of schools in communities within Oriire Local Government Area by armed men who reportedly abducted several pupils and teachers.
The incident has generated anxiety among residents and sparked renewed calls from civil society organisations and community leaders for decisive government action to combat kidnapping and violent crime across the state.
The protesters maintained that authorities must treat the situation as a matter of urgent public importance and intensify efforts to ensure the safe rescue of all abducted victims while preventing future attacks.
The demonstrators further stressed that the protection of lives and property remains the primary responsibility of government, urging authorities to adopt proactive measures capable of restoring public confidence and guaranteeing the safety of citizens across Oyo State.
