Teachers in Lagos State, on Tuesday, joined others nationwide, to embark on a protest to demand the immediate release of abducted teachers, students and other victims across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesting teachers from different local government Areas in Lagos State marched from Ikeja Under Bridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) in Alausa.
Mr Akintoye Hassan, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, said that the protest was not only in response to recent incidents in Oyo State.
NAN reports that over 40 pupils/students and seven teachers of two nursery and primary schools and a secondary school in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota near Ogbomoso, were abducted by armed men on May 15.
Hassan said that the protest was also aimed at drawing attention to the growing insecurity that had continued to threaten education and national development.
He said that the abduction of students and teachers, which began years ago in parts of Northern Nigeria, had gradually spread across the country, making no region completely safe.
“The struggle today is not only about a recent incident. It is about all the abductions of children and students that have taken place in Nigeria since around 2014,” the chairman said.
According to him, insecurity has affected people from all walks of life, including teachers, students, doctors, community leaders and politicians.
He said that the challenge required a collective response from security agencies, political leaders and citizens rather than a culture of blame.
“This is not the time to trade blame. It is the time to assign responsibilities and ensure that everyone works together to address insecurity,” Hassan said.
He said that the union decided not to shut down schools immediately, but to take a strategic approach aimed at protecting the right of children to education.
He said that prolonged closure of public schools would disproportionately affect children from low-income families, who relied on government-funded education, while their counterparts in private schools continued learning.
“If we shut down schools unnecessarily, we deny children access to education and indirectly help those whose aim is to disrupt the educational system,” Hassan said.
The NUT chairman said that attacks on schools and educational institutions were deliberate attempts to undermine societal development, stressing the need to protect learning environment.
He urged Nigerians not to lose focus on insecurity after each incident, but to sustain advocacy and engagement until lasting solutions were achieved.
Hassan said the union would continue consultations with stakeholders and inform of further actions through its national leadership.
He also appealed to protesters to remain peaceful and orderly as they returned to their various destinations after the demonstration.
Responding, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa expressed concern over the growing insecurity in parts of the country, particularly the recent killing of teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Obasa described the incident as unfortunate and deeply troubling, expressing the assembly’s concern about security challenges and its resolve to support efforts aimed at ensuring the safety of residents.
He said addressing insecurity required collective approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders, parents, teachers and other stakeholders.
The speaker urged Nigerians to be proactive in addressing security concerns, as citizens should not wait until criminal activities affected their communities directly before taking action or speaking up.
He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing security challenges across the country and expressed confidence that ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and security agencies would yield positive results.
Obasa decried the growing trend of spreading unverified and sensational information on social media.
He warned that circulation of false reports for the purpose of attracting followers or generating online traffic could worsen public anxiety and undermine security efforts.
The speaker appealed to teachers, parents and other well-meaning Nigerians to contribute constructive ideas and recommendations that could help strengthen national security.
Obasa lauded NUT, Lagos chapter, for rising in solidarity with their colleagues, in spite the incident occurring outside Lagos.
He described the action as a demonstration of unity, empathy and commitment to the welfare of teachers across the country
