Residents of Ibadan in Oyo State resumed protests on Tuesday, calling on all relevant authorities to rescue the kidnapped pupils and teachers of Oriire local council in Oyo State.
The protesters, who gathered at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan as early as 8:00 a.m., moved towards the Sango-University of Ibadan axis and the state’s secretariat.
A protester, Kayode Babayomi, faulted political leaders for not showing urgency in rescuing the hostages.
“This is the second day of the #BringBackOurChildrenandTeachers protest in Oyo State. We made it clear yesterday that until those kids are released, until the teachers are freed and until there is an end to insecurity in Oyo State, we will not stop. This is a seven-day action, and today is the second day,” Babayomi stated.
The national coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest would continue “as long as our children and teachers remain in captivity”.
“It will continue as long as insecurity persists in the country. Today, in the country, insecurity has become an economy. An economy for the elite, making big money from it while terrorising ordinary people.
“This is why protests are happening in Ibadan and Abeokuta, and plans are underway for Lagos and Abuja. The demands are clear, and we will keep protesting until victory is certain,” Sanyaolu added.
On Monday, protesters decried the time it is taking the government to free the hostages.
Dozens of Oriire schoolchildren and staffers were abducted on May 15 by terrorists.
On May 17, Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers at Community High School, Ahoro Esinele, was shot and beheaded by the terrorists.