More than 1,000 teachers in Lagos State on Monday staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of teachers, students, and other victims abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The protesters, drawn from various schools and education unions, condemned the growing wave of insecurity affecting schools and communities across Nigeria, describing the abduction as a tragic reminder of the government’s failure to adequately protect lives and property.
Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the teachers called on federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice. They expressed concern over the continued captivity of the abducted teachers and pupils, warning that the incident has heightened fear and uncertainty among educators, parents, and students.
The demonstrators also stressed that attacks on schools and educational institutions pose a serious threat to the country’s education system and the future of Nigerian children. They urged the government to implement stronger security measures to safeguard schools and prevent further incidents of kidnapping and violence.
The protest comes amid mounting public outrage over the abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, which has already triggered an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State and sparked solidarity actions from teachers and labour activists across the country.
Participants at the protest maintained that the safety of teachers and students must become a national priority, insisting that no child should be denied education because of insecurity and fear of abduction.
The teachers vowed to continue demanding urgent action until all the abducted victims are rescued and measures are put in place to guarantee the security of schools nationwide.
