Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Osun State on Tuesday staged a solidarity protest, calling for the immediate rescue of teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The protest, led by the Osun State Chairman of NUT, Babatunde Babalola, began at Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo and moved through major roads in the state capital before ending at the Osun State Government Secretariat in Abere.
The demonstration was organised in response to the abduction of pupils and teachers from three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026. The incident has continued to generate concern and condemnation across the country.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Stop Killing Custodians of Knowledge,” “From Chibok to Oriire, Our Children Are Still Crying,” and “Set Our Teachers, Pupils and Students Free From Captivity,” the protesters urged authorities to take stronger action against insecurity.
Speaking during the protest, Babalola said the union was standing in solidarity with the abducted victims and their families.
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“We are here today in solidarity with our colleagues and students who were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. We also sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives during the attack,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of those still being held captive.
“We are appealing to the government to ensure the release of all those in captivity and to address the growing security challenges in the country. Without adequate security, schools cannot provide a safe and conducive environment for learning,” Babalola added.
Receiving the protesters on behalf of the Osun State Government, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Muritala Jimoh, assured teachers that the government remained committed to protecting schools and educational personnel.
Jimoh said the state government would continue to strengthen security measures around schools while urging teachers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to relevant authorities.
“The government is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our teachers and students. Our security agencies are on alert, but we also need your cooperation. If you notice anything unusual, report it immediately,” he said.
He reassured the protesters that efforts were ongoing to keep schools in Osun secure and maintain a safe learning environment for both teachers and students.
