Students in NUT call for immediate release of abducted teachers and pupils in Oyo.

On Tuesday, members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Taraba State chapter and students from across the state staged a peaceful rally in Jalingo. They called on the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the immediate and safe release of students and teachers who were recently abducted in Oriire Community, Oyo State.

The rally began at Barde Way and ended at the TY Danjuma House, where the protesters delivered their message to government officials.

Teachers and students gathered at the government facility to show solidarity with their counterparts in Oyo State and to demand urgent action to free the victims.

Addressing the crowd, Governor Agbu Kefas—represented by the Commissioner for Vocational and Secondary Education, Dr Augustina Godwin—condemned the abduction, calling it a barbaric and unacceptable act. He stressed that the lives of the abducted students and teachers were invaluable and urged the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts for their immediate rescue.

The governor also reaffirmed the Taraba State Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of schools and residents throughout the state.

Head of Service Hamidu Kara noted that the Kefas administration places a high premium on education and has made substantial investments in the sector. He expressed optimism that the impact of these investments would become evident soon and assured teachers that their concerns would be conveyed to Governor Kefas.

Earlier, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Nathan Solomon, said the union’s national leadership shares the pain and concerns of teachers nationwide over the persistent attacks on schools, particularly the recent abduction in Oyo State. Represented by the chairperson of the Nigeria Women in Education Network, Mrs Gloria Kachibiri, Solomon expressed deep sadness over the incident and called for urgent measures to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers.

He disclosed that the national leadership of the union had already issued a statement urging security agencies to expedite efforts to rescue the victims and prevent future attacks on educational institutions. The NUT chairman further called on relevant authorities to strengthen security around schools, emphasizing that teachers remain critical stakeholders in national development.

During the rally, Chief of Staff to Governor Agbu Kefas, Dr Jeji Williams, described the protest as a demonstration of national concern and solidarity. Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mr Philip Kundila, noted that investments in education require time to yield meaningful results but expressed confidence that positive outcomes would eventually manifest.

Students who participated in the peaceful protest carried placards with various inscriptions expressing their pain, concern, and demand for the immediate release of the abducted students and teachers.