Osun youth protest over abduction of Oyo schoolchildren and teachers

Hundreds of youths and civil society advocates staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Thursday. They demanded the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted in Oriire local government area of Oyo State.

The demonstrators marched along the city’s main roads, chanting solidarity songs and urging security agencies and government authorities to intensify efforts to rescue the pupils and their teachers.

They carried placards condemning insecurity, repeatedly shouting, “Release our children now,” and expressing concern over the fate of the abducted victims.

The protesters described the kidnapped children as the nation’s future and warned that ongoing attacks on schools posed a serious threat to education and national development.

During the demonstration, some protest leaders called on the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to work together to secure the safe return of the victims.

One of the organisers said, “Release our children now, urgent action is required to ensure the abducted pupils regain their freedom and return safely to their families.”

The protesters maintained that children should be protected and allowed to pursue their education without fear, noting that attacks on schools undermine public confidence in the country’s security architecture.

They also appealed for immediate intervention from relevant authorities, stating that every additional day in captivity could worsen the trauma experienced by the abducted children and their teachers.

DAILY POST had reported that the Osun State council of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, had earlier in the week embarked on a protest over the kidnapping of school pupils and teachers in Oyo State.

The union, which marched from Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo to the Osun State Secretariat, Abere, demanded action from the Oyo State and Federal Governments and the immediate rescue of the kidnapped victims to their families.