Kwara protesters give government three days to rescue kidnap victims

Members of the Take-It-Back Movement held a peaceful protest on Friday in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State. They demanded the immediate rescue of residents kidnapped from various communities in the state. The protesters gave the government a 72-hour ultimatum to secure their release.

The protesters gathered at Tanke Junction around 7:00 a.m. They marched through the main roads in the city before ending their protest at the Government House along Ahmadu Bello Way.

This protest comes as worries grow over the rising cases of kidnappings and violent attacks in the state. Areas like Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun, and some communities in Kwara South have seen repeated alarms raised by residents about insecurity.

Speaking to the protesters at the Government House, Saidu Tsaragi, the Kwara State Coordinator of the Take-It-Back Movement, said insecurity has made Democracy Day meaningless for many families with loved ones still in captivity.

Musa, another leader of the protest, claimed some people tried to disrupt the demonstration but insisted the group would not back down. “We have been outside since 7:00 a.m. to occupy the Government House. There was a little setback. 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 expressed sadness over the worsening security situation in 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 protester, speaking with emotion, accused the government of neglecting the plight of those abducted. 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 criticized the government's failure to protect 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 is safe from the threat of insecurity. “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 also revealed that the group would escalate their actions if the authorities did not secure the release of the abducted victims within 72 hours. “If the government fails to rescue the victims within 72 hours, we will mobilize 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 facing the state,” he stated.

Another protester compared the insecurity crisis to a public health emergency, saying it needs urgent action. “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 made it clear that their demonstration was not politically motivated but driven by concern over the increasing kidnappings and violent attacks in the state. They vowed to return to the Government House on Monday if their demands are not met, warning that failure to act within the given time would lead to wider mobilization across Kwara State.