Protests against the now rampant abductions and kidnappings of innocent and hapless Nigerians is catching fire nationwide.
The North, South East, South-South, South-west and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have all witnessed such protests amidst urgent calls on the authorities to rein in the perpetrators.
Across all media types, Nigerians have been pouring out their anger on President Bola Tinubu, and his perceived acolytes for ‘keeping quiet’ while innocent families, including babies and students are held in kidnappers’ dungeons in most harrowing conditions.
“An attack on teachers is an attack on education, and an attack on education is an attack on the future of Nigeria,” National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Audu Titus Amba, has declared.
Speaking in Abuja, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted teachers and students, warning that continued attacks threaten the future of education and national development.
Referencing with the killing of two abducted teachers in Oyo, he said it underscored the urgency of the problem, wondering why the Federal Government even since the Chibok incident had not been able to contain insecurity mores in schools.
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He spoke amidst anger protests against abductions across many states including Oyo, Osun, Borno, Lagos, Ogun, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Anambra, Cross River and Kwara amongst others.
According to him, apart from the seven teachers and 39 pupils kidnapped from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, more than 40 pupils were abducted from Mussa Primary and Secondary Schools in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on the same day.
“It is heartbreaking to note that two of our colleagues have been gruesomely murdered in cold blood by the bandits in Oyo State. The fate of the remaining abductees remains uncertain,” he said.
Protests against abductions in the country, have come in different forms and shades from far and near.
It is a major topic of discussion at the just concluded National Church Denominational Leaders’ Summit 2026 of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
In its communique released at the event, the CAN called on the Federal Government to declare a State of Emergency on Security.
With “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward” as theme, the conference declared June 12, 2026, as the beginning of a three-day national mourning period, culminating in June 14, 2026, which it designated as “Black Sunday” in solidarity with victims of insecurity and their families.
The will be observed in churches nationwide.
The communiqué, signed by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, church leaders expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation in the country, citing persistent attacks on communities, churches, schools and other vulnerable populations.
On its part, the NUT president disclosed that the union had already directed all primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services indefinitely from June 1 until the abducted teachers and students are rescued.
“If it becomes obvious and necessary that we ask teachers all over the country to down tools, it is not going to be difficult. We have the responsibility to speak for our teachers whenever they are not secure in their places of duty,” Amba said.
Protests Against Abductions was a collaborative action in In Oyo State, involving the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State chapter, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
NANS National President, Comrade Babatunde Akinteye Afeez, who addressed the protesters at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, said members of the association from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had converged on Oyo State to demand the victims’ release.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Hassan Fatai, said teachers across the state were demanding justice and urgent action.
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The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins, lamented that kidnappers were targeting not only teachers and pupils but Nigerians generally.
At the Borno leg of the protests, the NUT picketed the Government House in Maiduguri with placards such as “Education Is Not a Crime” and “Bring Back Our Students,” the teachers demanded urgent government action to rescue the abducted children and secure schools.
In Ogun State, some of the placards read: “Release Our Teachers and Pupils Unconditionally”, “Stop Attacks on Schools”, “Government Must Protect Lives”, and “Unchain Our Children, Unchain Nigeria’s Future”,
Calling the government to urgently rescue abducted teachers and pupils, the Anambra State NUT chairman, Chika Chukwudozie, said “For over two weeks now, the innocent teachers and learners are still in captivity under inhumane conditions, leaving their families to live in fear and anguish”.
The same sentiments echoed in Benue State where, where the protest was addressed by the Benue NUT chairman, Levi Akuma.
