LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, staged a solidarity protest on Tuesday at the Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding the immediate release of teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire, Ogbomoso area of Oyo State.
The procession, which began at Ikeja Under Bridge and ended in Alausa, was part of a nationwide campaign by the union to draw attention to worsening insecurity in schools. NUT Lagos Chairman Hassan Akintoye described the crisis as a national emergency, urging the government to take decisive action. “The continued attacks on schools and educators pose a serious threat to the nation’s education sector and the future of its children,” he said.
The union also called on the Federal Government to immortalize slain teacher Michael Oyedokun, compensate his family, and sponsor the education of the abducted children once they are freed.
Receiving the protesters, Lagos Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa commended the teachers for their peaceful advocacy and emphasized the need for stronger security measures, including the establishment of state police. “Safeguarding lives and property is a collective responsibility,” he said, assuring the union that their concerns would resonate at relevant levels of government.
Nigeria has faced repeated waves of school abductions since Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from Chibok in 2014. Bandit groups have increasingly targeted schools in the northwest and southwest, using children and teachers as leverage against government forces. The Oyo abduction, one of the largest in recent years, has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls for urgent reforms.
Policy makers and stakeholders warned that continued attacks could cripple Nigeria’s education system. Advocacy groups including Amnesty International condemned the Oyo abduction as part of a “chilling plan to intimidate communities.” The Nigerian Union of Teachers has declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State, with solidarity protests spreading across the country.
On social media, Nigerians expressed anger and solidarity. Hashtags such as #BringBackOurChildren, #StopInsecurity, and #SaveOurSchools trended on X (formerly Twitter). One user wrote: “If teachers are not safe, then education itself is under attack.” Another posted: “Immortalize Michael Oyedokun — he died for Nigeria’s children.”
Celebrities and influencers also joined the campaign, with Nollywood actors and Afrobeats musicians urging the government to prioritize the safety of schools. Parents and community leaders echoed the call, warning that insecurity is eroding public trust in institutions and threatening Nigeria’s fragile democracy.
The Lagos protest underscores the growing frustration of ordinary Nigerians who feel abandoned in the face of escalating violence. With victims still in captivity, the Oyo abduction crisis has become a flashpoint for national anger and a test of the Tinubu administration’s ability to secure the country.
