…Principal releases fresh distress video from captivity as protesters urge government to intensify rescue efforts
Teachers and civil society organisations (CSOs) on Friday staged a protest in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, demanding urgent government intervention to secure the release of dozens of teachers and schoolchildren abducted by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The demonstrators, drawn from various educational and advocacy groups, expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of the victims and the growing insecurity facing schools across the state.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located within Oriire Local Government Area.
Reports indicate that at least 45 teachers and pupils were abducted during the coordinated attacks.
The protest, organised by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group in collaboration with the Nigeria Teachers Congress (NTC), attracted teachers, rights activists and concerned residents who marched through major streets in Ibadan, calling on authorities to act swiftly.
The protesters warned that the continued detention of the victims had heightened fears among teachers and parents, insisting that the safety of educators and schoolchildren must become a top priority for government at all levels.
National President of the Nigeria Teachers Congress, Mr. Bunmi Thomas, said the union joined the demonstration in solidarity with the abducted victims and their families.
According to him, the protest was a lawful effort aimed at drawing greater attention to the plight of the captives and encouraging authorities to intensify rescue operations.
“When we heard about the proposed protest by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group, we decided to join because their demands are legitimate,” Thomas said.
“They are asking the government to take pragmatic steps toward securing the release of the abducted teachers and pupils. If current efforts have not produced the desired outcome, then more must be done.”
Thomas stressed that the protest was not directed against Governor Seyi Makinde or his administration but was intended to underscore the urgency of the situation.
He lamented that some of the abducted children are as young as two and three years old, noting that they have remained exposed to harsh weather conditions and other dangers while in captivity.
“We want security personnel attached to government schools across the state. Teachers cannot continue to work under constant fear of abduction,” he added.
Addressing the protesters, the Executive Assistant to Governor Makinde on Security Matters, Sunday Odukoya, assured residents that the state government was actively working to secure the release of the victims.
Odukoya said certain operational details could not be disclosed publicly in order to avoid jeopardising ongoing rescue efforts.
“It is your constitutional right to protest and express your concerns. This incident is unfortunate, but I want to assure you that the government is not folding its arms,” he said.
He added that Governor Makinde had remained fully engaged with the situation since the abduction occurred and that security agencies were working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the captives.
Meanwhile, one of the abducted victims, Mrs. Alamu, a school principal, has released a fresh distress video from captivity, appealing to the Federal Government, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently.
Speaking in the video, which has since circulated widely on social media, Mrs. Alamu said both teachers and schoolchildren have endured weeks of hardship under severe weather conditions while being held by their abductors.
She further alleged that the kidnappers had become increasingly agitated and threatened to kill one of the captives following a previous rescue attempt.
The abducted principal appealed for dialogue and negotiations to facilitate their release, warning that the situation could deteriorate if urgent action is not taken.
“Please help us. We are calling on the NUT and all relevant authorities to intervene. We have been exposed to cold and harsh weather conditions. We are pleading for our freedom,” she said in the emotional appeal.
The May 15 abduction in Oriire LGA drew national attention and coincided with a similar kidnapping incident in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where dozens of schoolchildren were also taken by armed groups.
In a tragic development, one of the Oyo abductees, identified as teacher Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the kidnappers, further intensifying calls for urgent action to rescue those still being held captive.
