Workers and students in Osun State took to the streets on Wednesday, voicing their deep frustration over the escalating insecurity plaguing Nigeria. The demonstration, which brought traffic to a standstill at the busy Olaiya Flyover in Osogbo, saw a coalition of major unions demanding immediate action from the government.
A Coalition of Frustration Halts Osogbo
The protest was organized by a powerful alliance including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Osun State. For several minutes, they shut down the key Olaiya Flyover, chanting solidarity songs and causing significant traffic disruption as motorists scrambled for alternative routes.
Policemen were present to provide close protection for the demonstrators, while officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps managed the chaotic traffic. The protesters' placards bore stark messages that captured the national mood:
- "Poverty Fuels Insecurity"
- "FG, We Need Actions, Not Excuses"
- "Tinubu, Act Now. Stop the Criminality, Save Jobs"
- "Nigeria is Bleeding"
- "End Terrorism, Banditry and Kidnapping"
Labour Leaders Question Government's Last-Minute Moves
Addressing journalists at the protest ground, the Osun NLC Chairman, Christopher Arapasopo, lamented the daily increase in killings and abductions. He called on both federal and state governments to wake up to their primary duty of protecting citizens. Arapasopo expressed bewilderment at the timing of a meeting called by the Forum of State Governors with labour leaders just hours before the nationwide protest commenced.
"The leadership of the NLC never met with the President. The Forum of State Governors invited NLC leadership at the national level. But why yesterday?" he queried. "This notice was out before now; why not then? Why not earlier, when they knew and were aware that today is the day fixed?"
He clarified that the protest was an awareness campaign to jolt governments at all levels into action. "This is just a peaceful protest, and after today, we will wait for another directive from the national leadership," Arapasopo stated.
Resignation Call and Economic Insecurity Highlighted
The Chairman of the Osun State Coalition of Civil Societies, Waheed Lawal, delivered a more stringent message. He directly asked President Bola Tinubu and state governors to resign honourably if they feel overwhelmed by the security challenges.
Lawal expanded the definition of insecurity, linking it directly to the economic hardship faced by workers. "We are not only facing insecurity in terms of killings and kidnapping; we are also battling with an insecure economy," he said. He criticized the current minimum wage, stating that N70,000 is not commensurate with the high cost of living and that workers are not getting the needed wages.
"President Tinubu begged to get this job, and he should not give excuses. You should act decisively now. Nigerians should not be nursing fears while travelling. Government should do its duty as laid down in the Constitution or resign honourably," Lawal declared.
Specific Demands for Osun State
Lawal also addressed local security concerns. He called on the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to ensure the reopening of two Amotekun offices shut down by the Nigeria Police and to resolve the detention of some Amotekun operatives linked to the Akinlalu killings.
He expressed grave worry over reports that suspected bandits abducted a former Customs officer in the Ora community on Monday night and killed a village chief. "We heard that kidnappers have infiltrated Osun. This is not good. Osun used to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria," Lawal said, urging the state government to rally security agencies and hunters to prevent further criminal infiltration.
Student leader Farouk Sodiq, who joined the protest, echoed the sentiments, demanding an end to insecurity and declaring that "students are no longer safe." The protest on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, stands as a stark reminder of the growing public impatience with the nation's security crisis.
