Ibadan Shutdown: Protesters Lock Down Iwo Road, Demand Freedom for 39 Abducted Oyo Pupils, Teachers

Major transit routes in Ibadan ground to a halt Monday as protesters barricaded the strategic Iwo Road interchange, demanding the immediate rescue of 39 schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire LGA.

Organised by the Take It Back Movement, the demonstration began around 10:00 AM and brought traffic to a complete standstill at the city’s critical gateway, leaving thousands of commuters stranded for hours.

—“We will not wait until 2027”–

The protesters carried placards and banners calling for an end to kidnappings and accused both state and federal authorities of inaction.

National Coordinator Juwon Sanyaolu said the protest was part of a sustained campaign launched after the abduction.

“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. Government officials remain in the comfort of their offices while innocent students and their teachers are languishing in kidnappers’ dens,” he told reporters.

Sanyaolu said the demand extends beyond Oyo: “We are demanding freedom for all captives in the North, South, East and West of Nigeria.”

He also criticised politicians for focusing on 2027 elections while insecurity persists: “We will not wait until 2027. By then, we do not know how many people will still be alive. That is why we are here in Ibadan, where the abduction occurred. Both the state and federal governments must act or continue to face mass protests.”

—Gridlock at Iwo Road—

Security operatives monitored the situation as the blockade created severe congestion around Iwo Road, one of Ibadan’s busiest junctions connecting multiple parts of the city.

The Take It Back Movement said the action will continue until all victims regain their freedom.

The abduction of pupils and teachers from Ahoro-Esiele has intensified calls for urgent government intervention, with protesters warning that further delays will trigger more mass demonstrations across the country.