Traffic was brought to a standstill at the busy Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday as protesters took to the streets to demand the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in the state.

The demonstration, led by the Take It Back Movement, caused significant disruption to vehicular movement and commercial activity in the area, with commuters and motorists stranded for hours as protesters occupied key sections of the interchange.

The group said the protest was part of a continued campaign to pressure authorities into securing the freedom of the abducted victims and addressing worsening insecurity across the country.

The National Coordinator of the movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, explained that the action was a continuation of earlier efforts to draw attention to the kidnapping incident in Oyo State.

He said the organisation would continue its protests until all abducted victims across the country are freed.

“We will continue to protest for the release of all abducted victims until they are free. We believe that government officials are in the comfort of their rooms and offices while innocent 46 students and their teachers are languishing in the kidnappers’ den.

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

Security personnel were seen monitoring the situation to prevent escalation, while ensuring that the protest remained largely peaceful despite the traffic disruption.

The demonstration reflects growing public anger over repeated school abductions and wider insecurity, particularly in parts of the country where armed groups have continued to target rural communities, schools, and transport routes.

Residents and commuters affected by the road blockade called for quicker government intervention to secure the release of victims and restore normal movement in the area.

Authorities have yet to issue a detailed response to the protest, while security agencies continue efforts to locate and rescue the abducted students and teachers.

The protest adds to a series of public demonstrations in recent years across major Nigerian cities, where citizens have taken to the streets to demand action on insecurity, governance, and policing reforms.