Principals, Teachers Begin Nationwide Protests Over Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren

Members of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have begun protests across the country over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo state.

KanyiDaily recalls that the NUT had earlier declared an indefinite strike in Oyo and asked its branches nationwide to organise solidarity protests demanding the safe return of those kidnapped.

In a statement on Tuesday, ANCOPSS national secretary, Tawo Akuben, said all school principals had been instructed to join the demonstrations.

“The pains, psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the abducted is better imagined than felt,” the statement reads.

“In view of this, our mother union, the NUT national, has called for a release of the abducted children and teachers.

“Based on the aforementioned, the National President of ANCOPSS, Dr. Robert Ike Okorie has directed via this medium that ANCOPSS State Presidents including FCT Abuja to: as a matter of urgent necessity, mobilize principals in every state capital to participate in solidarity rally with our mother union on Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026.”

While noting that an injury to one is injury to all, ANCOPSS urged its state chapters and members to participate in the exercise “with pictorial evidence and post to the national platform”.

Protests have already started in several parts of the country and are gaining momentum in others.

In Lagos, demonstrators were seen marching from the Balogun area of Ikeja towards the state secretariat in Alausa, blocking parts of the road while chanting.

Teachers also gathered at their union office before moving to other locations to continue the protest.

The nationwide action follows earlier demonstrations held on Monday in Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and Abeokuta over the abductions.

The incident dates back to May 15, when gunmen kidnapped about 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

During the attack, an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were killed.

A few days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by the kidnappers, sparking outrage across the country.

In separate videos shared online, Rachael Alamu, one of the abducted principals, appealed for help, saying the kidnappers had threatened to harm more victims and urging authorities to act quickly.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde visited the victims’ families, while a federal team led by Femi Gbajabiamila and Nuhu Ribadu also travelled to Ogbomoso.

President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the deployment of a specialised security unit to help rescue the abducted students and teachers.

KanyiDaily recalls that Rachael Alamu, the abducted Oyo principal, had appealed to President Tinubu and Goveenir Makinde to negotiate with the kidnappers.