Democracy Day: Oyo protesters demand govt action on insecurity, abductions

To mark this year’s Democracy Day on June 12, protesters across Nigeria converged at strategic locations under the theme, “Bring Back Our Children,” calling attention to the country’s worsening insecurity and the persistent abduction of schoolchildren and teachers.

The demonstrators urged the government to take decisive action against banditry and implement effective measures to protect lives and property across the country.

In Ibadan, where our correspondent monitored the protest, demonstrators gathered in large numbers at Challenge as early as 8:00 a.m. and marched to Agodi Gate. Carrying placards and chanting solidarity and revolutionary songs, they repeatedly voiced their demands for improved security and accountability from the government.

The protest, organized by the Take It Back Movement, was attended by its National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu.

Addressing the protesters, Sanyaolu said the government has a responsibility to ensure the safety of citizens wherever they live and work.

“The government’s duty is to ensure that the roads are safe and that Nigerians are safe in their places of work. Before now, we used to hear about bandit attacks mainly in the North, but now the menace has spread to the South-West,” he said.

At various points along the route, protesters paused to address residents and onlookers, urging them to join the peaceful march in solidarity with abducted teachers and students and to demand urgent government intervention.

The presence of officers of the Nigerian Police Force did not deter the demonstrators, as police personnel escorted the procession throughout the march.

Despite repeated calls on the government to tackle insecurity, kidnappings continue across the country. Nigerians are still being abducted daily from their homes, schools, workplaces, and places of worship, raising concerns among citizens who fear that no one is truly safe from the growing threat of banditry and violent crime.