Tension is mounting across Nigeria over the worsening insecurity in the country and the perceived failure of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect lives and property.
The growing outrage spilled onto the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday as protesters stormed the Oyo State Government Secretariat in Agodi, demanding the immediate resignation of President Tinubu and Governor Seyi Makinde over the continued captivity of about 50 abducted pupils, minors, and school teachers.
The victims were kidnapped by suspected terrorists in Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota communities in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Rescued Kidnapped Victim
The protesters vowed to occupy the seat of government in the state for the next one week until the abducted teachers and schoolchildren regain their freedom.
They also warned that if the victims are not released before the end of the week, a nationwide protest would be declared, with demonstrators marching to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to shut down government activities.
Speaking during the protest, one of the demonstrators said people from several South-West states had joined the agitation against insecurity and the rising wave of kidnappings.
“People from Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Lagos states are here to protest. This is a South-West protest against insecurity and the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers.
“We are sending a message to the government that this is only a warning protest. For every day the children remain in captivity, we will continue protesting throughout the week.
“If this week passes and the Tinubu government still fails to secure the release of our children, there will be a nationwide shutdown next week. In Abuja, we will march to Aso Rock. Tinubu cannot continue sleeping comfortably while our children and teachers are stranded in the bush,” the protester declared.
A journalist, Ayodele Aluko, also appealed to both the federal and Oyo State governments to intensify efforts toward securing the release of the victims.
She described the situation as heartbreaking, lamenting that the abducted pupils and teachers had reportedly spent more than two weeks in captivity.
Aluko argued that many of the victims came from low-income families who could not afford private education or overseas schooling for their children, unlike many political office holders.
“It is painful that these children, who belong to struggling families, have been abandoned for this long. The government’s response to the incident appears insensitive and unacceptable,” she said.
Meanwhile, a rescued female kidnapping victim recounted her traumatic experience in captivity, alleging that the bandits nearly raped her and repeatedly threatened to kill their captives if ransom was not paid.
Narrating her ordeal, she said her parents were forced to raise money before she regained freedom after being abducted in Edo State.
“They beat us mercilessly. I was almost raped. They kept telling us that if our families paid ransom, we would be released, but if they failed, we would be killed.
“They also told us they were not Nigerians and could do whatever they wanted to us,” she said.
