Traffic was brought to a standstill on Monday at the busy Iwo Road Interchange in Ibadan, Oyo State, as protesters occupied the major roundabout to demand urgent action against rising insecurity and the release of schoolchildren reportedly abducted in the state.

The demonstrators, comprising concerned residents, youths, and community activists, blocked sections of the road, causing severe gridlock and disrupting movement along key routes connecting Ibadan with other parts of Oyo State and neighboring states.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “End Insecurity Now,” “Bring Back Our Children,” and “Government Must Act,” the protesters expressed frustration over the growing cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in parts of the state, particularly in the Oke-Ogun axis.

The protest follows reports of the abduction of schoolchildren and other residents by suspected kidnappers, a development that has heightened fear among residents and sparked calls for stronger security measures.

Some of the protesters accused authorities of not doing enough to tackle the worsening security situation, urging both the Oyo State Government and federal security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and bring perpetrators to justice.

The demonstration attracted the attention of security operatives, including police officers and other law enforcement personnel, who were deployed to the area to maintain order and prevent the protest from turning violent.

Motorists and commuters were forced to seek alternative routes as traffic built up around Iwo Road, leading to delays and disruptions to commercial activities in the area.

As of the time of filing this report, the protesters insisted they would continue their demonstration until their concerns were addressed and concrete steps were taken to ensure the safe return of the abducted children and improve security across the state.

Authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the protest and the demands raised by the demonstrators.