Principals, Teachers Begin Nationwide Protests Over Abducted Ogbomoso Schoolchildren

Members of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have kicked off a nationwide protest demanding government action over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states.

The protests started June 1 and escalated through June 2, with teachers and students taking to the streets in Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Abuja, Kaduna, and other cities across the country.

Tawo Akuben, ANCOPSS national secretary, said the leadership had directed all school principals nationwide to join the protest. “The pains, psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the abducted is better imagined than felt,” the statement read.

The crisis began on May 15 when gunmen abducted about 39 pupils and seven teachers across three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. An assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were killed during the attack. Days later, Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was beheaded by his captors.

On the same day, 42 schoolchildren were abducted from Mussa Ward in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, compounding the national crisis.

Protest Escalation

In Lagos, protesters marched from the Balogun area of Ikeja towards the state secretariat in Alausa. NUT members in Lagos gave the Federal Government a one-week ultimatum to rescue all abducted victims.

In Ogun State, protesters comprising teachers, youths, and nursing mothers marched through Abeokuta with placards. NUT national president Titus Amba urged President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter as a national emergency.

In Oyo State, public schools remained shut as the indefinite strike continued across all 33 local government areas. Governor Seyi Makinde described the abduction as a moment of national distress requiring unity. In the FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike assured protesting teachers that security agencies are working to secure the release of the victims.

Residents and civil society organisations in Borno expressed frustration over the Federal Government’s silence since the Askira-Uba abduction. Abubakar Suleiman, chairman of CSOs in Borno, noted that while a high-powered federal delegation visited Oyo, Borno received no similar visit. In Kwara, the NUT warned of a potential school shutdown if the government fails to act decisively.

Government Response

President Tinubu has directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities and approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards. A federal delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila and Nuhu Ribadu visited Ogbomoso to assess the situation.

Governor Makinde visited the families of victims but faced criticism after initially denying federal involvement in rescue efforts. The House of Representatives has also called for the urgent rescue of all abducted victims. Families of the abducted pupils and teachers reportedly rejected rice and cash from government officials, insisting only on the safe return of their loved ones.

The NUT has declared the strike indefinite until all abducted schoolchildren and teachers are rescued.

Sources: TheCable, Vanguard, Guardian, Punch