Voices for Oriire: Ibadan Teachers Unite in Mass Walk for Abducted Students and Colleagues

Teachers, education stakeholders, and concerned residents on Friday staged a peaceful solidarity walk in Ibadan and parts of Oyo State to demand the immediate release of kidnapped students and teachers reportedly abducted in the Oriire area of Ogbomoso.

The protest, which drew the attention of the public and media organizations, was organized to express deep concern over the growing insecurity affecting schools and rural communities in the state.

Participants carried placards with inscriptions such as “Bring Back Our Children,” “Every Child Matters,” and “Protect Teachers and Pupils.” The protesters called on both the Oyo State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward rescuing the victims and restoring confidence in the education sector.

According to the organizers, teachers can no longer continue normal academic activities while their colleagues and students remain in captivity.

The demonstrators also presented a number of demands to the government, including the temporary closure of schools in vulnerable areas until adequate security measures are put in place.

Among their demands were:

1. Immediate release of the abducted teachers and students.

2. Temporary closure of affected schools until the victims regain freedom.

3. Improved security architecture in schools, particularly in remote and rural communities.

4. Protection of teachers and pupils within the framework of the law.

The peaceful procession reportedly covered several strategic locations, including Oyo Mesi FM, Dynasty FM, Owode-Alagbon area in Oyo, the SUBEB Office in Iseyin, the SUBEB Headquarters in Ibadan, and the Oyo State Government Secretariat at Agodi, Ibadan.

In Ibadan, protesters converged at Iwo Road before proceeding to the SUBEB Headquarters and the State Secretariat, where they appealed to authorities to act swiftly and decisively.

The protest has also attracted the attention of child protection and humanitarian organizations, with calls on international bodies and advocacy groups such as UNICEF Nigeria, Save the Children Nigeria, SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, and FIDA Nigeria to intervene and lend their voices to the campaign.

Residents and parents who joined the solidarity walk described the situation as heartbreaking, stressing that no child should be denied access to education because of insecurity.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities were yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident and the protesters’ demands.