Hundreds of teachers and civil society activists took to the streets of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, demanding the immediate and safe release of teachers and schoolchildren abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The protesters, drawn from the Oyo State Teachers Action Group and the Nigeria Teachers Congress (NTC), staged a peaceful demonstration, warning that the growing spate of school-related kidnappings in parts of the state had become unacceptable and posed a direct threat to the education sector.
Addressing the protesters, the National President of the NTC, Reverend Bunmi Thomas, said the organisation joined the demonstration in solidarity with the victims and their families, stressing that the protest was lawful and aimed at pressing the government to intensify rescue efforts. He acknowledged reports that efforts were already underway to rescue the victims but insisted the government needed to do more.
Responding to the protesters, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya, assured them that the government was actively working to secure the release of the abducted teachers and pupils.
More protests are on the horizon. The Take-It-Back Movement has announced a follow-up protest scheduled for today, Monday June 1, 2026, expected to converge at Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan by 8am, with organisers accusing authorities of failing to protect residents from violent criminals and kidnappers.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also mobilised a nationwide solidarity rally for today 1st of June, which will include visits to the affected schools and the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the DSS.
