Teachers and civil society groups staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan on Friday, demanding urgent action from government to secure the release of teachers and pupils abducted in Oriire Local Government Area.
The demonstration was organised by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group in partnership with the Nigeria Teachers Congress. Protesters said the safety of teachers and schoolchildren could no longer be taken lightly.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, in Esiele and Yawota communities of Ogbomoso. National President of the Nigeria Teachers Congress, Reverend Bunmi Thomas, said the protest was lawful and aimed at pressing government to intensify rescue efforts.
Thomas acknowledged that rescue efforts were ongoing but said more needed to be done. He expressed concern for young children reportedly held in difficult conditions in the bush and called for security personnel to be posted to public schools across the state. He also said teachers in Oyo State were not against Governor Seyi Makinde, whom he commended for his performance, but urged the government to provide regular updates on rescue efforts.
Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya, responded to the protesters. He said the government was actively working to secure the release of the victims and that Governor Makinde was personally monitoring the situation. Odukoya added that operational details could not be made public and assured protesters that no teacher would be victimised for participating in the demonstration.
The protesters said they were not against the government but appealed for greater urgency and compassion to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped teachers and pupils.
