RismadarVoice Reporters, June 22, 2026
Commuters were stranded on Monday as protesters barricaded the busy Iwo Road roundabout in Ibadan, causing heavy traffic gridlock across major routes in the city.
The demonstration, which began around 10 a.m., was led by members of the Take It Back Movement, a human rights group demanding stronger action against insecurity and the immediate release of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.
The protesters called for the freedom of 39 pupils and staff members reportedly abducted in the Orire Local Government Area in May, insisting that the government’s response to the incident has been inadequate.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the action was part of a sustained campaign to pressure authorities into securing the release of all kidnapped victims across the country.
“This is a continuation of actions the organisation has embarked upon since the abduction of children and teachers,” he said.
Sanyaolu criticised what he described as government inaction, alleging that officials were disconnected from the realities faced by affected families.
“We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent students and their teachers are languishing in kidnappers’ dens,” he said.
The group also expanded its demands beyond Oyo State, calling for the rescue of all kidnapped persons across Nigeria, regardless of region.
Protesters carried placards and banners with messages demanding an end to kidnappings, while chanting slogans urging authorities to take urgent action.
Sanyaolu warned that public demonstrations would continue if the government fails to respond decisively, saying the issue should not be ignored ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
Authorities had yet to issue an official response at the time of filing this report, while traffic remained heavily disrupted in parts of Ibadan.
