Ibadan, June 1, 2026 — Hundreds of students and civil society activists on Monday staged a peaceful demonstration in Ibadan over the continued captivity of 42 pupils and teachers abducted from public schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.
The demonstrators marched through major parts of the city, including Bodija, Mokola, Iwo Road, Gate Bus Stop, and the Oyo State Secretariat in Agodi, demanding the immediate rescue and release of the victims.
Carrying placards with different messages, the protesters urged authorities to intensify efforts to secure the freedom of those still being held.
Addressing journalists during the rally, a student representative, Moses Olawole, criticised what he described as a slow response by the authorities, expressing concern that the victims had remained in captivity for nearly three weeks.
According to him, more decisive intervention could have prevented the situation from dragging on for such an extended period.
He warned that the demonstrations would continue daily until the abducted pupils and teachers regained their freedom.
Olawole also disclosed that participants were considering expanding the campaign to the nation’s capital, Abuja, by June 8 if no significant progress was made toward securing the release of the victims.
Security operatives were deployed across the protest routes to ensure order and prevent any breakdown of law and order during the demonstration.
Also present at the scene was Sunday Odukoya, Executive Assistant on Security Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde, who monitored activities but did not make any public comments on the issue.
As of the time the report was compiled, the demonstration was continuing, with participants maintaining their demand for the safe and immediate release of the abducted pupils and teachers.