By Aggrieved residents of Oyo State and concerned Nigerians on Monday, June 1, staged a protest in Ibadan over the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area.
They stormed the streets in the early hours of today to demand the immediate release of the victims from captivity.
The protest, which began at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan, attracted a large number of demonstrators who marched through major roads to Agodi GRA before converging at the gate of the Oyo State Government Secretariat.
AfrikTimes had earlier reported that gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on Friday, May 15. The affected schools included Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A Primary School, Ahoro-Esinle.
During the attack, a teacher and a commercial motorcyclist were reportedly killed, while several pupils and teachers were abducted by the gunmen.
According to reports, over 30 students and teachers were taken into the National Park area in Oyo State, where another teacher identified as Mr. Oyedokun Michael was beheaded on record by the abductors.
It has been over 16 days since the victims were kidnapped, with residents expressing frustration over what they described as the slow pace of rescue efforts.
Some of the protesters who spoke with AfrikTimes called on the government and security agencies to move beyond passive responses and intensify efforts toward rescuing the abducted victims.
The protesters also appealed to the state and federal governments to prioritise the safety of schoolchildren and teachers across vulnerable communities in the state.
During the process of filling this report, protesters have dispersed to come around again tomorrow for the continuation of the protest.
It is concerning to note that no representative from the government secretariat attended to the protesters as the gate was heavily guarded with security operatives who prevented entry into the premises.
This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
