Teachers and residents in Borno, Oyo, and Ogun states have staged protests over the recent abduction of school children and teachers, criticizing the Federal Government's response as unequal and inadequate.
Borno Residents Express Frustration
Residents of Borno State have voiced concerns over the Federal Government's prolonged silence following the abduction of 48 basic school pupils in Mussa community, Askira Uba Local Council. They noted that the government prioritized a similar incident in Oyo, sending a high-powered delegation including the National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, and Chief of Staff, while neglecting the Borno abductions.
Chairman of Civil Society Organisations in Borno, Abubakar Suleiman, stated: "The Federal Government visited Oyo with a high-powered delegation... In the case of Borno, around 416 people were kidnapped in Ngoshe on May 3. There has not been any Federal Government intervention." He called for intensified search-and-rescue operations for all victims.
Political analyst Abubakar Kareto echoed similar sentiments, condemning the attacks. Samaila Kaigama, President of Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, urged political leaders in the state to emulate their South-West counterparts.
Oyo Teachers Shut Schools
In Oyo State, public schools were shut as teachers embarked on a peaceful protest over the abduction of students and teachers in Ahoro-Esiele community, Oriire Local Council. The industrial action followed a directive from the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), calling for nationwide demonstrations demanding the release of kidnapped victims.
The shutdown affected public schools across all 33 local councils, with classrooms deserted. In Ibadan, schools in 11 local councils were locked, forcing pupils to return home. Only final year secondary students writing terminal examinations were allowed access.
Concurrently, members of the Take-It-Back Movement protested at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan, demanding urgent action to address rising insecurity and secure the release of abducted pupils and teachers. Armed with placards reading "Security for all, not for a few" and "Government must end kidnapping in Oyo State," demonstrators decried the worsening security situation.
Ogun Residents Protest
In Ogun State, residents staged a protest over worsening insecurity and the recent kidnapping of 39 pupils and seven teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Youths and nursing mothers took to major streets in Abeokuta with placards such as "The crime they committed is they went to school, release our children and teachers" and "Stop brutality, kidnapping, banditry."
One of the abductees from Community Grammar School, Mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the terrorists. Speaking on behalf of demonstrators, Pastor Juwon Owolabi lamented that residents can no longer sleep well, asserting that the country is at a tipping point where no one is safe.
