Protesters have stormed the streets of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state, calling for the rescue of the abducted Ogbomoso school children and teachers.
The demonstration has hampered traffic around key routes in Ibadan.
The protesters started their march at the Mokola roundabout before moving towards the main gate of the University College Hospital (UCH).
Made up of members of the Take-It-Back Movement, teachers, and schoolchildren, the demonstrators carried banners and placards with inscriptions such as ‘#BringBackOurChildren’, ‘#47Abducted’, and ‘#SpeakUp’.
A teenager can be seen holding aloft a banner with the message: “Their lives matter, bring back our children.”
Femi Adeyeye, one of the protesters, stated that the protest is designed to draw government attention to the worsening insecurity in the state.
“These things have been happening but the government hasn’t been paying adequate attention,” he said.
“You can’t be in your house and be killed, yet it is happening in Nigeria. We are demanding the urgent rescue of the abducted children.”
An activist Kayode Babayomi, faulted state and federal authorities for what he described as poor handling of the situation.
“Both the Oyo and federal governments have failed to protect the citizens. That’s why we are out here to register our displeasure,” he said.
“We are demanding effective security and strict monitoring of schools across the state. The situation is getting worse day by day.”
The protesters demanded safer roads and communities, protection for farmers, traders and students, as well as justice and improved security across the state.
The protest comes amid escalating tension following a recent wave of kidnappings in the state.
On Sunday, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite strike in the state, demanding urgent rescue of abducted victims and improved security measures.
In a circular dated May 29 and signed by Audu Amba, NUT president; and Clinton Ikpitibo, secretary general; the union directed all state chapters to hold solidarity rallies nationwide on Tuesday.
In a statement on Sunday signed by Salami Olukayode, secretary of the Oyo state wing of the union, NUT confirmed full compliance with the directive.
The crisis comes after the May 15 abduction of about 39 students and seven teachers across three schools in Oriire LGA.
During the attack, an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were killed.
Days later, Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was beheaded by the kidnappers, causing outrage across the nation.
