Members of the Take-It-Back Movement staged a peaceful protest in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, demanding the immediate rescue of residents abducted across the state.
The group issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to secure their release.
The protesters, who converged at Tanke Junction around 7:00 a.m.
They marched through major roads in the metropolis before terminating their demonstration at the Government House along Ahmadu Bello Way.
The protest followed rising cases of kidnapping and violent attacks in parts of the state, particularly in Edu, Patigi, Ifelodun and several communities in Kwara South.
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.
Members of the Take-It-Back Movement protesting on Democracy Day in Ilorin, Kwara State on Friday. Credit: JEO
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.
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President Tinubu urged to appoint new DG for NCSP
From: Vincent Ikuomola, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged to as a matter of urgency appoint a new Director General for the Directorate of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP).
President Tinubu had on his return from the State visit to China established in the Presidency, the Directorate of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), to provide strategic directions to the engagement viewed as eminently consequential, among other Nigeria’s international partnership.
The president also appointed Dr. Joseph Tegbe, as the DG of NCSP before elevating him to the position of Minister of Power.
Charles Onunaiju, Director, Centre for China Studies, Abuja stressed the need for quick appointment of a new head of the Directorate so that the country can maximise the opportunities
Onunaiju made the call in Abuja at the Dialogue on “The Governance of China” and Knowledge Sharing in Nigeria-China Cooperation: Implication for Mutual Learnings.
The dialogue brought together intellectuals from the academics and public service.
Speaking at the event, Onunaiju said the NCSP remains a veritable platform for the actualisation of
tangible benefits from the new partnership between China and Nigeria.
He therefore urged the president not to delay in appointing a new DG for NCSP.
He further stressed that Nigeria must take advantage of all the opportunities provided by the
China Zero Tariff treatments for all goods from the 53 African countries with diplomatic relations with Beijing, which took effect from.May 1 2026.
He noted that this policy has opened a new vista for structural transformation of economies in the region, historically burdened with single commodity mono culture economic structure.
Besides, Onunaiju pointed out that the policy will benefit the country in the area of Infrastructure construction, agricultural modernization, capacity building industrial and production capacity cooperation, trade and investment, cultural and educational exchanges.
He added: “Knowledge and experience sharings, mutual learnings, civilization dialogues, explorations of histories, thoughts and contemporary thinkings of the two sides are important frontiers that are open to further development in Nigeria-China bilateral cooperation.”
He therefore described the dialogue as a free and open discussion.
“We are opening a new path to Nigeria-China cooperation because despite the several milestones it has reached, its opportunities need to be further clarified and to bring it to the mainstream of the social fabric of the two nations, research and extensive intellectual discourse would be considerably required,” he added.
Addressing the gathering, the Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Wang Jun, said that Xi Jinping Governance of China series which is the focus of discussion is a structured articulation of China’s governance philosophy and development experience, covering key policy areas such as targeted poverty alleviation, ecological civilization, and long-term strategic planning.
He highlighted China’s achievement in lifting nearly 800 million rural residents out of extreme poverty.
“This philosophy and methodology hold significant practical value for Nigeria and other African countries in their efforts to reduce poverty and promote inclusive development. Another key idea is the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.
“It stresses a balance between economic growth and environmental protection. This has enabled China to pursue a path of green, low-carbon and high-quality development while offering valuable insights for African countries seeking sustainable development during modernisation. President Xi Jinping has clearly stated that China is ready to share its governance experience with Africa and support every country in exploring development paths suited to their national conditions,” Wang said.
According to him, China is willing to share governance experience with African countries while emphasizing that each nation must pursue a development path suited to its own national conditions. He added that China–Africa cooperation continues to expand under a shared vision of mutual development and a common future.
Dr Segun Showunmi, a public affairs analyst and political strategist, said development experiences from different countries could provide useful insights for Nigeria’s long-term planning and transformation agenda.
He identified infrastructure development, industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, poverty reduction and public sector efficiency as areas where valuable lessons could be drawn.
“Infrastructure is not an expense; it is statecraft,” he said.
Showunmi stressed that while every nation must pursue development based on its unique realities, studying successful models could help inform policy choices and accelerate progress.
Also, Dr Olalekan Babadunde of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) said leadership remained central to achieving sustainable development and improving citizens’ welfare.
“To achieve people-centred development and high-quality development, we need leadership,” he said.
Babadunde noted that China’s emphasis on long-term planning, rural revitalisation and national development offers useful perspectives for policy discussions in developing countries.
In his remarks, the Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria and Director of the Centre for Contemporary China-Africa Research, Prof. Sheriff Ghali Ibrahim,
urged participants to treat the dialogue as an intellectual exercise grounded in inquiry rather than certainty.
Prof. Ibrahim outlined the progression of the series, noting that earlier volumes focused on reform and opening-up, while later editions addressed pandemic response, poverty alleviation, and China’s drive toward modernization. He also referenced the Selected Readings of Xi Jinping, which he said provides deeper insight into China’s modernization agenda and governance priorities.
He identified key principles of Chinese modernization, including people-centred development, common prosperity, integration of material and cultural advancement, ecological balance, and peaceful development. He emphasized that China’s approach rejects colonial expansion and instead promotes development through cooperation and internal transformation.
The Belt and Road Initiative, he noted, represents a broader framework beyond infrastructure, encompassing policy coordination, trade facilitation, financial integration, digital connectivity, and people-to-people exchanges. He described it as part of a wider effort to strengthen global cooperation and development partnerships.
Ibrahim further highlighted China’s concept of holistic national security, which integrates political, economic, social, and ecological dimensions. He argued that sustainable governance requires balancing development with stability and security.
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