Protesters block major Ibadan roads amid kidnapping crisis

By Adeola Badru

Major sections of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, were halted on Monday when demonstrators blocked the Iwo Road interchange in protest against the rising insecurity and the growing wave of kidnappings in the state.

The demonstration, which began at about 10 a.m., was organized by the Take It Back Movement, a human‑rights advocacy group. Protesters occupied the strategic junction, disrupting traffic on one of the city’s busiest routes.

They urged the government to take urgent action to address insecurity and to secure the release of 39 schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted in Oyo State.

Public anger has continued to grow over the abduction, which occurred in Orire Local Government Area in May and remains unresolved.

During the protest, Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the movement, said the demonstration was part of a sustained campaign launched after the kidnapping of the pupils and their teachers.

He said the group would continue its actions until all victims were freed.

“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. Government officials remain in the comfort of their offices while innocent students and their teachers are languishing in kidnappers’ dens,” he said.

The protesters, who carried placards and banners demanding an end to kidnappings, accused authorities of failing to take decisive action to rescue those still in captivity.

Sanyaolu further stressed that the campaign was not limited to Oyo State, noting that the group was demanding the release of all abducted persons across the country.

“We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, East and West of Nigeria,” he added.

He also criticized Nigeria’s political leadership, accusing politicians of focusing on the 2027 elections while security challenges continue to threaten lives.

“We will not wait until 2027. By then, we do not know how many people will still be alive. That is why we are here in Ibadan, where the abduction occurred. Both the state and federal governments must act or continue to face mass protests,” he said.

The protest caused severe traffic congestion around the Iwo Road axis, leaving many commuters stranded for hours as security operatives monitored the situation.