Members of the Take-It-Back Movement on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, demanding the immediate rescue of residents abducted across various communities in the state and issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to secure their release.

The protesters, who converged at Tanke Junction around 7:00 a.m., marched through major roads in the metropolis before terminating their demonstration at the Government House along Ahmadu Bello Way.

The protest comes amid growing concerns over rising cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in parts of the state, particularly in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun and several communities in Kwara South, where residents have repeatedly raised alarm over insecurity.

Addressing the demonstrators at the Government House, the Kwara State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, Saidu Tsaragi, said insecurity had made the Democracy Day celebration meaningless for many families whose loved ones remained in captivity.

Musa alleged that some individuals attempted to disrupt the protest but maintained that the group would not be deterred from pursuing its demands.

“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 lamented 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, who spoke emotionally, 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 protester 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 warned 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 demonstrator further disclosed 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.

“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.

Another protester likened the insecurity challenge to a public health emergency, saying it required urgent and coordinated intervention.

“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 protesters insisted that the demonstration was not politically motivated but driven by concern over the increasing wave of kidnappings and violent attacks across communities in the state.

They vowed to return to the Government House on Monday if their demands were not met, warning that failure by the authorities to act within the stipulated period would trigger a wider mobilisation across Kwara state. (The PUNCH)

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