By Maryam Shuaibu
Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) have commenced nationwide protests demanding the release of students and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo State.
The demonstrations follow a directive by the national leadership of the NUT, which declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State and called on its state chapters to organise solidarity rallies across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, ANCOPSS National Secretary, Tawo Akuben, said the association had directed school principals nationwide to join the protests in support of the abducted victims.
“The pains, psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the abducted is better imagined than felt,” Mr Akuben said.
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“Our mother union, the NUT national, has called for the release of the abducted children and teachers.”
He said the National President of ANCOPSS, Robert Ike Okorie, instructed state chapters, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to mobilise principals for solidarity rallies in their respective state capitals.
Protests spread across states
The protests began in several parts of the country on Tuesday, with demonstrations gathering momentum in major cities.
In Lagos, a video showed protesters marching from the Balogun area of Ikeja towards the state secretariat in Alausa while chanting solidarity songs.
Demonstrators temporarily occupied part of the road leading to the secretariat as they demanded urgent action to secure the release of the victims.
Reports also indicated that members of the NUT gathered at the union’s secretariat before proceeding to other locations for the protest.
ANCOPSS urged its members to actively participate in the demonstrations, describing the abduction as an attack on the entire education community.
“An injury to one is injury to all,” the association said.
Background to the abduction
The protests follow earlier demonstrations held on Monday in Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Abeokuta over the continued captivity of the victims.
On 15 May, gunmen abducted 39 students and seven teachers during attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
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The attackers also killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist during the incident.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers, sparking outrage across the country.
In separate videos shared on Instagram, Rachael Alamu, one of the abducted principals, appealed for urgent intervention, saying the kidnappers had threatened to kill another victim.
Government response
Over the weekend, Seyi Makinde visited families of the victims, while a federal delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila and Nuhu Ribadu visited Ogbomoso.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers.
The protesters say they will continue to demand urgent action until the victims are safely reunited with their families.