The streets of Ibadan swelled with anger and urgency on Tuesday as controversial activist VeryDarkMan led a massive protest demanding the safe return of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State. The children were taken on May 15 from schools in the Oriire area during a violent raid that left a teacher dead, a grim detail that continues to haunt families and fuel public outrage.
By mid-morning, thousands had gathered, moving in a determined march toward the state government headquarters. Placards bobbed above the crowd, voices rose in unison, and the message was blunt: enough is enough.
What began as a protest quickly turned into a test of political will.
Organisers said they rejected a private meeting proposed by state officials, insisting instead that Seyi Makinde come out and speak directly to the people. Under mounting pressure, the governor did just that.
Standing before a restless crowd, Makinde struck a conciliatory tone. He pledged to do everything within his power to secure the children’s release, even going as far as saying he was ready to “sacrifice himself” if necessary. But he also pointed to the limits of his office, noting that certain security operations require federal approval, a comment that drew mixed reactions from the crowd.
For many in attendance, those explanations rang hollow.
“We don’t want grammar,” one protester shouted. “We want our children back.”
The protest, however, wasn’t without moments of tension. At one point, suspected thugs attempted to infiltrate and disrupt the gathering. Witnesses described a brief but chaotic scene as protesters chased them off, some wielding sticks and machetes. Despite the scare, order was quickly restored, and the march continued without escalating into violence.
For families of the abducted children, the protest was more than a show of force, it was a desperate plea. Some parents were seen clutching photographs, others breaking down in tears as they recounted weeks of silence and uncertainty.
“We haven’t heard anything concrete,” one relative said quietly. “Every day feels like a year.”
The incident in Oriire is the latest in a string of school-related kidnappings that have rattled communities across Nigeria, raising fresh concerns about security gaps and the safety of students in rural areas. While authorities often promise swift action, critics argue that responses remain reactive rather than preventive.
Tuesday’s protest may have forced a rare moment of direct engagement between citizens and leadership, but it also underscored a deeper frustration, a growing sense that communities are being left to fend for themselves.
For now, the focus remains on the missing children.
And as the crowd slowly dispersed under the fading afternoon sun, one thing was clear: the pressure on the government isn’t going away anytime soon.
Thvgs came to disrupt VDM’s protest today in Ibadan and he stood with them and chased them away….. baba carry digger join body o 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/ou88tolBsW
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 16, 2026
“One last thing Mr Gov, if you’re waiting for the perfect time to go rescue those children, they’ll keep them there for long and even marry them off to other k!dnapp£rs. We’re ready to enter the bush with you today or tomorrow and we know there’ll be c0llateral damag£ and we’re… pic.twitter.com/cRLCaLj1Oq
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 16, 2026
