Lagos Teachers Stage Protest, Demand Immediate Release of Abducted Colleagues and Students
NUT members march to Lagos Assembly, warn that rising insecurity poses a serious threat to education and national development.
Teachers across Lagos State joined a nationwide protest on Tuesday, demanding the immediate rescue of abducted teachers, students, and other victims of kidnapping across Nigeria. The demonstration highlighted growing concerns over insecurity and its impact on education, with union leaders calling for urgent action from government and security agencies.
Hundreds of teachers in Lagos State took to the streets on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of abducted teachers, students, and other victims of kidnapping, as concerns over insecurity continue to mount across the country.
The protest, organized by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Wing, saw participants from various local government areas march from Ikeja Under Bridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.
The demonstration formed part of a nationwide action by teachers aimed at drawing attention to the growing security challenges facing schools and educational institutions across Nigeria.
Speaking during the protest, the Chairman of NUT Lagos State Wing, Mr. Akintoye Hassan, said the action extended beyond the recent abduction incident in Oyo State and was intended to spotlight the broader security crisis affecting education nationwide.
The protest follows the abduction of more than 40 pupils and students, alongside seven teachers from two nursery and primary schools and a secondary school in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities near Ogbomoso, Oyo State, on May 15.
According to Hassan, attacks on schools and educational institutions have become a recurring challenge since similar incidents began emerging in parts of Northern Nigeria over a decade ago.
“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,” he said.
The union leader noted that insecurity has affected virtually every segment of society, including teachers, students, healthcare workers, community leaders, and public officials.
He stressed that addressing the crisis requires collective action from government authorities, security agencies, community leaders, and citizens rather than political blame games.
“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 stated.
NUT Rejects School Closure Option
Despite growing concerns, Hassan explained that the union had deliberately avoided shutting down public schools, arguing that such a move would disproportionately affect children from low-income families who depend on government-funded education.
He warned that prolonged school closures could unintentionally aid those seeking to disrupt Nigeria’s educational system.
“If we shut down schools unnecessarily, we deny children access to education and indirectly help those whose aim is to disrupt the educational system,” he added.
The NUT chairman described attacks on schools as direct threats to national development and called for sustained advocacy until lasting solutions are implemented.
He assured members that the union would continue consultations with relevant stakeholders while awaiting further directives from its national leadership.
Lagos Assembly Expresses Concern
Responding to the protesters, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa, expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in parts of the country, particularly the recent killing of teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Obasa described the development as disturbing and reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for efforts aimed at protecting lives and property.
According to him, tackling insecurity requires a collaborative approach involving government institutions, security agencies, traditional rulers, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders.
He urged Nigerians to become more proactive in addressing security threats and to report suspicious activities before criminal elements gain a foothold in their communities.
The Speaker also cautioned against the spread of unverified information on social media, warning that false reports could heighten public anxiety and undermine ongoing security operations.
Obasa further praised the Lagos chapter of the NUT for standing in solidarity with affected teachers and students despite the incident occurring outside the state.
He described the protest as a powerful demonstration of unity, compassion, and commitment to the welfare and safety of educators across Nigeria.
