Youths in Oyo state, South-West Nigeria have blocked the Agodi office of the Oyo State Government in protest against the kidnapping of school pupils and their teachers in Esinele, Orire LGA.
The protesters condemn the disposition of the federal and state government towards the release of the victims, saying they were busy with political activities to secure their own future while neglecting innocent souls in kidnappers den.
The protesters say they will not vote in 2027 if the authorities fail to secure the release of the victims and insist that they will not back down until the government does the needful.
Meanwhile, civil society groups, and concerned Nigerians in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria on Monday also staged a peaceful protest in Abeokuta, over the recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Ogbomoso, in neighbouring Oyo State.
The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, marched through major roads in the city, calling on federal and state authorities to intensify efforts towards securing the immediate release of the victims and strengthening security across the country.
The demonstrators expressed concern over the growing wave of insecurity, particularly the increasing cases of kidnappings targeting schools and innocent citizens. They warned that if urgent and decisive action is not taken by relevant authorities, such incidents could spread to other parts of the country.
Speaking during the protest, some of the participants urged security agencies to be more proactive in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and crime prevention rather than reacting after attacks have occurred.
The protesters also appealed to the government at all levels to prioritise the safety of citizens, especially school children and teachers, noting that the education sector should never become a target for criminal activities.
Meanwhile, security personnel were deployed to strategic locations to monitor the protest and maintain law and order. The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with no report of violence or disruption of public activities.
The protesters maintained that their action was aimed at drawing national attention to the plight of the hostages and encouraging authorities to take immediate steps to secure their freedom while preventing future occurrences.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
