Members of the Take-It-Back Movement held a peaceful protest in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, on Friday, demanding the immediate release of residents kidnapped in several towns around the state and a 72-hour deadline for the government to do so.
The protesters gathered at Tanke Junction at 7:00 a.m. and marched across main routes in the city before ending their rally at the Government House on Ahmadu Bello Way.
The demonstration comes amid mounting concerns over an increase in kidnappings and violent attacks in areas of the state, particularly in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and numerous communities in Kwara South, where locals have regularly expressed concern about security.
Addressing the demonstrators at the Government House, Saidu Tsaragi, the Kwara State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, stated that insecurity had rendered the Democracy Day celebration useless for many families whose loved ones remained in captivity.
Musa claimed that some people attempted to interrupt the protest but that the organisation will not be deterred from pursuing their goals.
“We have been outside since 7:00 am to occupy the Government House. There was a little setback (resistance). However, we are not backing down.
“Our protest is peaceful, and our mission is simple: rescue our people. Our mothers, fathers and children are in kidnappers’ dens. Seven people from Yaashikira are currently with kidnappers, while several others from Edu, Patigi and communities in Kwara South are still in captivity,” he said.
He bemoaned what he described as the worsening security situation across many local government areas of the state.
“Our local government areas are under siege. We are simply asking Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to rescue the victims or resign. Our demand is clear and straightforward,” he added.
One of the protesters accused the government of failing to prioritise the plight of abducted residents.
He said, “It is painful that people are celebrating democracy while many of us are grieving because our loved ones are being held captive in forests. They cannot freely eat, communicate with their families or live normal lives.
“The government should be focusing on rescuing these victims, but instead we feel abandoned. We are only reminding the authorities to do what is expected of them.”
The demonstrator also criticised what he described as the government’s inability to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
“The government has failed in its duty to safeguard citizens. If this were a political rally, security personnel would be deployed in large numbers, but when ordinary people demand protection, they are ignored,” he said.
He issued a warning that no family was immune to the threat posed by insecurity.
He added, “If we fail to speak up now, what has happened to others may eventually happen to us. We must unite, regardless of political affiliations, and demand our rights as citizens.”
The protester further revealed that the group would escalate its actions if the authorities failed to secure the release of abducted victims within 72 hours.
“If the government fails to rescue the victims within 72 hours, we will mobilise across Kwara State. We are also calling on the federal government to declare a state of emergency on insecurity in the state.
Another demonstrator compared the insecurity problem to a national health emergency, stating that it demanded immediate and concerted action.
“If that cannot happen, then Governor AbdulRazaq should consider stepping aside for someone capable of effectively addressing the security challenges confronting the state,” he stated.
“If we continue to handle insecurity the way it is currently being handled, we will suffer even more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments took decisive steps to protect lives. The same seriousness should be applied to the insecurity crisis,” he said.
“Insecurity is a pandemic that is spreading through communities and destroying lives. It requires urgent and coordinated action,” he added.
The demonstrators stated that the action was not politically motivated but rather sparked by worry about an expanding wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across the state.
They pledged to return to the Government House on Monday if their demands were not met, warning that failure by the authorities to act within the time frame specified would spark a broader mobilisation throughout Kwara.
