Hundreds of residents, parents, and education stakeholders in Ibadan, Oyo State, took to the streets on Monday to protest the abduction of pupils and teachers, demanding urgent government intervention to secure their release and strengthen school safety.
The demonstrators moved through key roads in the state capital, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards denouncing rising insecurity, particularly attacks targeting educational institutions. They urged both state and federal authorities to intensify rescue operations and ensure the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Many protesters voiced alarm over what they described as an escalating pattern of kidnappings in school environments, warning that continued incidents could severely disrupt learning and deepen fear among parents, students, and educators.
Speaking during the rally, community leaders called on security agencies to enhance surveillance around schools, improve intelligence gathering, and adopt preventive strategies to avert future attacks. They also advocated for increased deployment of security personnel to high-risk and vulnerable communities.
The protest was triggered by the recent abduction of several pupils and teachers, an incident that has generated widespread outrage and renewed public pressure for stronger protection of schools across the state.
Security authorities have assured residents that coordinated operations are underway to locate the victims and apprehend the abductors, adding that investigative and rescue efforts have been stepped up.
The demonstration remained peaceful throughout, with participants insisting that schools must remain safe spaces and calling for decisive government action to address growing security challenges in the education sector.
