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Francis Onoiribholo
Members of the Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday trooped out to the streets of Benin to protest the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oyo and Borno States.
The aggrieved teachers, who gathered in large numbers at the Teachers’ House, Ogida Quarters, Benin City, before embarking on the peaceful protest, decried government complacency over the plight of the abducted teachers and pupils who have spent more than two weeks in captivity.
They carried placards with different inscriptions, including: “Teachers’ Lives Matter”, “The Classroom Must Not Become a Battlefield”, “Bring Back Our Teachers in Oyo”, among others.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Edo State Chapter, Comrade Lucky Imaruagheru, while addressing the protesting teachers faulted the kidnap and beheading of a teacher in Orirre Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He decried the inaction of the government and added that the NUT would no longer stay aloof while their colleagues and pupils suffer in the hands of kidnappers.
He said, “We saw the kidnapping and beheading of a teacher in Oyo State, and the government has kept mute on the plight of these children, and we are not going to stay aloof. We cannot allow ourselves to be used as sacrificial lambs while we give our energy, our time, and our resources to make Nigeria a better country.”
While accusing the nation’s leaders of complacency, he said, “But our leaders are keeping mute. It is not acceptable to us. We teachers cannot accept that. They should rise up to their responsibilities.” he further declared.
