Osun Teachers Stage Solidarity March, Demand Freedom for Kidnapped Oyo Learners and Educators

Teachers in Osun State on Tuesday joined a nationwide outcry over the abduction of schoolchildren and education workers in Oyo State, staging a solidarity protest and urging authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.

The demonstration, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), saw hundreds of teachers march through major roads in Osogbo before converging at the Osun State Government Secretariat in Abere, where they presented their demands to government officials.

The protest comes in response to the May 15 attack on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State—Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School—during which armed men abducted several pupils and teachers. The incident has continued to attract condemnation from education stakeholders and civil society groups across the country.

Led by the Osun State Chairman of the NUT, Babatunde Babalola, the protesters departed from Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, and moved along the Osogbo-Gbongan corridor carrying placards bearing messages such as “Stop killing custodians of knowledge,” “From Chibok to Oriire, our children are still crying,” and “Set our teachers, pupils & students free from captivity.”

Addressing journalists during the rally, Babalola said the demonstration was intended to show support for their colleagues and students still being held by abductors while drawing attention to the worsening security situation confronting schools nationwide.

“We are out today in solidarity with our colleagues and students who were abducted in Oriire Local Government, Oyo State.

We sympathised with the families of those who were killed among the abducted victims.

“We are calling on the governments to ensure the safe return of those who are still in captivity.

“We are also appealing to the federal government to look into the security issues and find a lasting solution to the problem. Without adequate security in our schools, the learning environment would not be conducive,” Babalola said.

The union stressed that recurring attacks on schools have continued to create fear among teachers, learners and parents, warning that insecurity poses a serious threat to educational development and the safety of learning environments.

At the Government Secretariat, the protesters were received by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Muritala Jimoh, who assured them that the Osun State Government remained committed to safeguarding schools and protecting both teachers and students.

Jimoh said security agencies in the state had been placed on alert and urged school personnel to remain vigilant by promptly reporting suspicious activities around educational institutions.

“The state government is doing everything possible towards the security of our teachers and students.

But I want to urge us to be security-conscious wherever we go. The government is always on alert.

“Our security outfits are on alert. If you hear anything, quickly alert security agencies. We are doing our best to keep Osun schools secure. We need to cooperate.”

The protest forms part of growing pressure on federal and state authorities to secure the release of the abducted victims and strengthen security around schools, particularly in rural communities increasingly vulnerable to attacks by criminal groups.