Thousands of residents took to the streets of Ibadan on Monday, protesting the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire near Ogbomoso, as outrage deepens over rising insecurity in southwestern Nigeria. The demonstrators gathered near the state secretariat, calling on authorities to secure the immediate release of the victims and end a wave of kidnappings that has unsettled communities.
The protests follow a May 15 attack by gunmen on local schools in the Oriire area, where victims aged between two and 16 years were taken. Among those abducted were school principals Folawe Alamu and Jonathan Ojo. The incident took a darker turn with the killing and reported beheading of a teacher, Michael Oyedokun, a development that has intensified public anger and fear.
Carrying placards reading “Government Must Act: End Kidnapping” and “Our Children Are Not Safe,” protesters marched through major roads, demanding swift and decisive intervention. Witnesses said the demonstration drew a broad coalition, including parents, civil society groups, and educators, many of whom expressed frustration at what they described as a slow security response.
“We cannot continue like this. Our schools are no longer safe,” one protester told reporters at the scene. “If the government cannot protect our children, then what is the future of education here?”
The unrest has also triggered industrial action, with teachers staging a strike in solidarity with their abducted colleagues. Parallel demonstrations were reported in Abeokuta, reflecting growing regional concern over the spread of school-related kidnappings.
Governor Makinde, responding to the protests, said the state government is working closely with security agencies to secure the release of the victims. In a statement, he pledged a combination of military operations and negotiations to resolve the crisis. “We are deploying all available resources to ensure these children and teachers return home safely,” he said.
A federal government delegation has since visited Oyo State to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts. However, as of Monday evening, no confirmed releases had been reported, and authorities say search operations are ongoing, particularly in and around the expansive Old Oyo National Park, where the abductors are believed to be hiding.
Security analysts note that the incident underscores a troubling trend of attacks on educational institutions, reminiscent of previous mass abductions in other parts of Nigeria. While such incidents have been more common in the northwest, their spread to the southwest has raised new alarm among residents and policymakers alike.
For families of the victims, the wait has been agonizing. “Every hour feels like a lifetime,” said a relative of one of the abducted pupils. “We just want them back alive.”
As pressure mounts on authorities, the coming days are likely to test both the effectiveness of the ongoing rescue operations and the government’s broader strategy to tackle kidnapping and insecurity across the region.