In a powerful display of solidarity, the Lagos State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), led by Comrade Hassan Akintoye...
In a powerful display of solidarity, the Lagos State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), led by Comrade Hassan Akintoye, State Chairman and the State Secretary, Comrade Gbenga Ayetoba, joined hundreds of teachers across the state in a peaceful rally to demand immediate and safe release of abducted teachers and students in Oyo State, as well as others held captive nationwide.
The rally, which began from the Ikeja Underbridge and terminated at the Alausa Secretariat, saw teachers carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Our Colleagues Are Not Bargaining Chips,” “Save Our Schools from Banditry,” and “Enough is Enough – Free the Captives Now.” The atmosphere was somber yet resolute, as participants chanted solidarity songs and called for urgent government action.
Addressing the crowd at Alausa, Comrade Hassan Akintoye condemned in strong terms the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s educational sector. He specifically decried the over three-week captivity of the abducted teachers and students in Oyo State, describing it as a national shame and an assault on the future of Nigeria’s children.
“Teaching environments must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets for terrorists and kidnappers. We demand that all levels of government work together to secure our schools, safeguard our members, and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of our colleagues and students in Oyo,” Akintoye stated.
He further called on security agencies to intensify rescue operations and urged the federal government to implement a comprehensive school protection framework, including the deployment of rapid response units to vulnerable schools.
In his response, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, assured the protesting teachers that President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the plight of the affected victims and their families. He revealed that ongoing multi-agency operations are in motion to secure the captives’ freedom and return them home safely.
“The President feels the pain of every parent and teacher whose loved ones are in captivity. I assure you, the government will not abandon them. Efforts are relentless, and we trust that soon, there will be a positive outcome,” Obasa said.
The Speaker also commended the Lagos NUT for choosing a peaceful and responsible approach in drawing attention to the crisis, and pledged that the Lagos Assembly would pass a resolution calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on school security nationwide.
The rally ended with a minute of silence for fallen teachers and students who have lost their lives in similar attacks across the country, and a prayer session for the safe return of those still in captivity.
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