Osun teachers protest, demand rescue of abducted Oyo pupils

Teachers in Osun State marched Tuesday to demand the safe return of students and educators abducted in neighboring Oyo State. The protest, organized by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, began at Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo and concluded at the Osun Government Secretariat.

“

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.

Armed assailants attacked three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo on May 15, seizing pupils and teachers. The abductions have sparked widespread outcry across Nigeria.

“

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

Carrying placards with messages like "Stop killing custodians of knowledge" and "From Chibok to Oriire, our children are still crying," the Osun teachers urged the government to find lasting solutions to the nation's escalating security crises. "We are calling on the governments to ensure the safe return of those who are still in captivity," said Osun NUT chairman Babatunde Babalola. He also appealed for federal intervention to address the security issues comprehensively.

“

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.

Muritala Jimoh, Permanent Secretary of the Osun Ministry of Education, received the protesters. He assured them of the state government's commitment to protecting schools and urged teachers to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies. "We are doing our best to keep Osun schools secure. We need to cooperate," Jimoh stated.

“

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.