NUT Holds Rallies In Oyo, Kano, Others Over Abducted Teachers, Pupils

 

As teachers and pupils recently abducted in Oyo State remain in captivity, protests continued across the country on Tuesday, with the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) staging rallies in several states.

The demonstrations followed a peaceful protest by civil society groups in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Monday, during which participants demanded the immediate rescue of the abducted victims.

In Ibadan, the nationwide protest by teachers today began on a solemn note.

 

 

The protesters converged at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) office in the American Quarter area of the city, where union leaders addressed members on the reasons for the rally.

Following the briefing, the procession moved from the NLC Secretariat through various parts of the city. Participants carried banners and placards bearing different inscriptions reflecting their concerns, while singing solidarity songs and using megaphones to explain their plight to members of the public.

 

 

Union leaders and members also took time to explain the purpose of the peaceful rally, stressing that it was not intended to be confrontational. They said the protest was a mass appeal to the collective conscience of the nation, the moral responsibility of government, and the constitutional duty of security agencies to protect lives and property.

In Plateau, teachers called for the immediate rescue of teachers and pupils abducted in Oyo State, describing the incident as a threat to education in Nigeria.

 

 

The teachers made the call in Jos as they joined colleagues in protest across the country to demand the safe return of the victims.

Addressing the protesters, Plateau NUT Chairman, Elisha Ayimani, said the growing trend of kidnappings targeting schools and teachers poses a serious danger to teaching and learning.

READ ALSO: Protest Rocks Ibadan Over Abduction of Pupils, Teachers

He urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to secure the release of the abducted teachers and pupils.

Ayimani said the union would down tools until the captives are rescued and reunited with their families.

The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions, marched from the Old Airport Roundabout to the New Government House in Little Rayfield, where they planned to submit a letter to Governor Caleb Mutfwang.

The union insists that ensuring the safety of teachers and students is critical to the future of education in the country.

The NUT, Kano State Chapter, also joined other concerned voices in lamenting the deteriorating security situation in the country following the kidnapping of the pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

 

 

The union called for urgent measures to address the growing insecurity and protect lives and property.

In Taraba, The Nigeria Union of Teachers and students joined their counterparts across the country in protesting the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.

The students and teachers are demanding that the government live up to its responsibility by securing the release of the abducted students and teachers, and also provide adequate security for schools across the country.

Edo State is not left out as union members led by the Edo State NUT Chairman, Lucky Imarouagheru, marched from the Labour House through major streets in Benin City, the Edo State capital, carrying placards expressing their displeasure over the Oyo attack, which occurred on May 15.

 

 

The protesters called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to secure the release of the victims, stressing that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure a safe and secure learning environment across the country.

In Ogun State, the teachers were joined in the protest by members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), its affiliate unions, civil society organisations in Abeokuta.

The protesters called on the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the abductees are rescued without delay and reunited with their families.

They also advocated new approaches to the ongoing rescue efforts, stressing the need for more effective strategies to secure the safe return of the victims.

 

 

The NUT members in Yobe also joined their other counterparts across the country to demand the release of the abducted students in Oyo and Borno states.

The Deputy State Chairman NUT Yobe State, Ali Abubakar, who led the peaceful protest to the Government House in Damaturu, said the challenges of attacks on schools is a great setback to education.

He asked the Federal Government to expedite actions in ensuring the affected teachers and students are safely returned.

Meanwhile, teachers in Adamawa joined other members across the country
in a peaceful protest in Yola over the recent abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State.

 

 

Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the teachers marched through major streets, calling on authorities to strengthen security around schools and ensure the safety of both educators and learners.

The union described the incident as disturbing and urged the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and prevent similar occurrences across the country.

The protesters were received by the chief of staff to the Governor Dr. Edgar Amos at the government house gate where they delivered their letter of demand to the Adamawa State Government.

 

 

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Amos assured the teachers of the government’s commitment to protecting lives and supporting measures aimed at improving security in schools.

He expressed sympathy with the affected families and pledged that the concerns raised by the union would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities.

The peaceful demonstration ended with renewed calls for collective action to safeguard the nation’s education sector.

Teachers in Rivers State also joined in the nationwide protest against attacks on schools and the abduction of students, particularly the recent incident in Oyo State.

The protesters marched to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, where the State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Bassey Asuquo, stressed that schools should remain the safest places for children in the country.

He called on all levels of government and security agencies to take urgent measures to release those abducted and prevent further attacks.

Responding on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, assured of the Rivers State Government’s support for efforts to secure the release of the abductees and restated the administration’s commitment to maintaining security in schools across the state.