Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, led a massive protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, demanding the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area one month ago. Addressing a large crowd gathered at the Oyo State Government House, the activist declared that protesters were ready to follow security forces into the bush to rescue the victims, while insisting that the demonstration was not aimed at confronting the police.
“We’re ready to follow them inside the bush, we’re not here to fight police, ‘cos if we’re here to fight police, we’ll definitely beat the police but we’re not here to fight them. We’re here to tell them that we’re ready to follow them into the bush when they’re ready,” VeryDarkMan told the crowd at the Government House, according to multiple news reports.
The protest, tagged “Bandits and terrorists must go”, saw a mammoth crowd of residents and members of the Ratel Movement converge under the Iwo Road bridge before marching through major roads in the state capital and gathering in front of the Government House. Carrying placards condemning insecurity and demanding the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers, the demonstrators expressed growing frustration over the government’s inability to secure the release of the victims.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed bandits attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro‑Esinle, killing a teacher and abducting dozens of pupils and staff. The victims have remained in captivity for over a month, with families and residents growing increasingly desperate.
VeryDarkMan, who had earlier participated in a protest in Abuja on June 12, returned to Ibadan to lead the demonstration, urging both federal and state governments to deploy all necessary resources to bring the children and teachers home unharmed. He expressed deep dissatisfaction with the pace of rescue operations and questioned the effectiveness of security measures in the state.
The protest comes amid growing public outrage over the abduction and rising insecurity across the country. Earlier, members of the Hausa community in Ibadan had staged a separate protest over alleged ethnic profiling following weeks of heightened suspicion directed at the community in the wake of the abduction. No official response has been issued by the Oyo State Government or security agencies regarding VeryDarkMan’s address at the Government House.
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