Hundreds of protesters led by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, took to the streets of Ibadan on Tuesday to demand the release of over 40 students and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State about a month ago. The demonstration, branded "Bandits and Terrorists Must Go", drew thousands as they marched through major parts of the city calling for urgent action from security agencies. VeryDarkMan, who mobilised the protest via social media, urged Ibadan residents to unite in demanding justice and the safe return of the kidnapped victims. Protesters carried placards, chanted slogans, and called for an end to the wave of abductions that have destabilised communities across the state. The march followed a separate demonstration by members of the Hausa community in Ibadan over allegations of ethnic profiling by security operatives. Tensions remain high in the city amid growing frustration over the government's response to the abduction and broader insecurity in the region. Authorities have yet to announce any breakthrough in the rescue of the victims, while residents continue to press for more decisive measures. The protest was peaceful, with no reports of clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
VeryDarkMan's mobilisation of a mass protest underscores the vacuum left by official inaction nearly a month after the abduction of over 40 students and teachers. When citizens must rely on social media influencers to rally national attention to kidnappings, it reveals the depth of public distrust in state-led security responses. The parallel protest by the Hausa community over ethnic profiling further exposes how security operations are deepening social fractures instead of restoring order. A crisis this visible has become impossible to ignore, yet the government's silence persists.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
