ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — Hundreds of youths and mothers marched through Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday to protest worsening insecurity and the recent abduction of 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Bring back our school children”, “Stop insecurity, Nigeria is falling apart”, and “Our future is crying for help”, demonstrators demanded the immediate release of the victims and called for schools to be shut down until safety could be guaranteed.
The abduction occurred on May 16, when armed men raided three schools, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, all located in Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso. At least two teachers were killed, including mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was reportedly beheaded in captivity.
Speaking at the protest ground in Panseke, Pastor Juwon Owolabi said residents now live in fear. “We cannot continue like this. We sleep with anxiety and panic. If insecurity does not end now, no one will be safe. The government must know we are united,” he said.
Entrepreneur Ada Comfort explained how insecurity has disrupted her business. “I cannot travel to Iseyin or Ilorin for work. My children are not among the victims, but I cannot sleep. I daydream about those children and imagine the pain of their mothers,” she said.
Precious Jonathan, a nursing mother, joined the protest with her one-year-old child. “I want a better Nigeria for my baby and unborn children. The other day it rained heavily, and I remembered the children in the bush. I cried,” she said.
Businessman Ayodeji Ojo urged security agencies to act decisively. “We need action, not just negotiation. If we keep folding our hands, your family and mine could be next,” he warned.
Police maintained a strong presence at the protest to prevent disruption, assuring demonstrators of their safety.
Nigeria has faced a wave of school abductions since 2014, when Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from Chibok, Borno State. Since then, bandit groups have increasingly targeted schools in the northwest and southwest, using abducted children and teachers as leverage against government forces. The Oyo crisis is among the largest mass abductions in recent years, sparking nationwide outrage.
Amnesty International condemned the abduction, calling it part of a “chilling plan of intimidating communities.” Omoyele Sowore announced a nationwide protest under the #RevolutionNow banner, demanding accountability from President Tinubu’s administration. The Nigerian Union of Teachers declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State, with solidarity protests planned across Nigeria.
Celebrities and influencers including Nollywood actors and Afrobeats musicians posted messages of solidarity, with hashtags like #BringBackOurChildren, #EndDSSHarassment, and #StopInsecurity trending on X (formerly Twitter). Policy makers and stakeholders warned that continued attacks on schools could cripple Nigeria’s education system and erode public trust in government institutions.
The Ogun protests highlight the growing frustration of ordinary Nigerian; parents, business owners, and community leaders who feel abandoned in the face of escalating insecurity. With victims still in captivity, the Oyo abduction crisis has become a flashpoint for national anger, testing both the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
