Residents of Ogun State on Monday staged a protest against rising insecurity in the country and the recent abduction of 39 school children and seven teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
The demonstrators, made up of youths and nursing mothers, carried placards with inscriptions such as “The crime they committed is they went to school, release our children and teachers”, “Stop brutality, kidnapping, banditry”, “Stop insecurity, Nigeria is falling apart”, and “Bring back our school children” among others.
The protest follows the May 16, 2026 attack on three schools — Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, all in Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso.
Reports also indicated that one of the abducted teachers, Mr Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher from Community Grammar School, was beheaded by the attackers.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters at the Panseke skating ground in Abeokuta, Pastor Juwon Owolabi said residents can no longer sleep peacefully due to fear of insecurity.
He said the country had reached a tipping point, warning that no one was safe regardless of social or economic status.
“We cannot continue like this, we sleep with anxiety and panic and we trust that the government has the capacity and what it takes to end this insecurity now,” he said.
Owolabi urged the government to take urgent steps to rescue the abducted victims and restore safety across communities.
He also called for collective action, saying citizens must speak out peacefully against insecurity.
An entrepreneur, Ada Comfort, said insecurity had affected her business and personal life, adding that she now fears for all children, not just her own.
“For someone like me, I’m into Asoke and I travel to Iseyin and Ilorin. For the past week I cannot travel, I can’t do anything,” she said.
She urged the government to prioritise the protection of lives and property.
A nursing mother, Precious Jonathan, who joined the protest with her baby, said she was demonstrating for the future of her child and other children in the country.
“I want a better Nigeria for all of us. The government should please remember us and give us a better Nigeria,” she said.
Another protester, businessman Ayodeji Ojo, called for urgent action rather than negotiations, warning that insecurity could affect anyone.
“We need action and not just negotiation. If we keep talking slowly, they will keep coming back for us,” he said.
The protesters demanded the temporary closure of schools until the security situation improves and the abducted victims are rescued.
They also urged the government to take stronger action against kidnappers, insisting that decisive measures were needed to protect children.
Security operatives were seen at the protest ground to maintain order and prevent any breakdown of law and order.