The abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State by suspected bandits has continued to generate concern among education stakeholders and residents.
Civil society organisations on Wednesday staged a protest in Lagos State over the growing wave of kidnapping across the country, demanding the immediate release of travellers, teachers and pupils still being held captive by their abductors.
The protesters converged on the Ikeja Under Bridge area before marching through parts of the city carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Kidnapping Our Families” and “Free Our Kidnapped Children and Teachers, Bring Them Home”.
The demonstration comes amid growing concern over recent abductions across the country, including the kidnapping of travellers aboard a bus in Kogi State and the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State.
The protest also follows similar demonstrations held in Oyo State by civil society groups and teachers in Ogbomoso, where the school abduction occurred, with calls for urgent government intervention to secure the release of the victims.
The abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State has continued to generate concern among education stakeholders and residents.
On Monday last week, teachers in Ogbomoso shut down classroom activities and staged a peaceful protest to the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) office in the town following the abduction and killing of a teacher.
A week after the protest, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services from schools beginning June 1, 2026, until further notice.
According to the directive signed by the Oyo State NUT Chairman, Hassan Fatai, the industrial action was declared in protest against the continued captivity of the abducted teachers and pupils, whose rescue and safe return remain uncertain.
The union said the action was aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the urgent need to intensify efforts toward securing the release of the victims without further delay.
The NUT urged teachers to comply fully with the directive while reaffirming its solidarity with the abducted teachers, pupils and their families, noting that engagements with relevant authorities would continue until the victims regain their freedom.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of 1,000 forest guards and the deployment of a special rescue team following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo State.
This was contained in a statement issued after a Federal Government delegation visited Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, where pupils and teachers of Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School were abducted on May 15, 2026.
The delegation, led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.
They conveyed President Tinubu’s concern over the incident and reiterated the administration’s commitment to securing the safe return of the abducted teachers and pupils.
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