Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Taraba State chapter, alongside students from across the state, on Tuesday staged a peaceful rally in Jalingo, calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to ensure the immediate and safe release of students and teachers recently abducted in Oriire Community, Oyo State.
The rally commenced from Barde Way and terminated at the TY Danjuma House, where the protesters delivered their message to government officials.
The teachers and students converged at the government facility to express solidarity with their counterparts in Oyo State and to demand urgent action to secure the release of the victims.
Addressing the protesters, Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by the Commissioner for Vocational and Secondary Education, Dr Augustina Godwin, condemned the abduction, describing it as a barbaric and unacceptable act.
He stressed that the lives of the abducted students and teachers were invaluable and urged the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts towards their immediate rescue.
The governor also reaffirmed the commitment of the Taraba State Government to ensuring the safety and security of schools and residents across the state.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Hamidu Kara, said the Kefas administration places a high premium on education and has made substantial investments in the sector.
He expressed optimism that the impact of the government’s educational investments would become evident in the near future and assured the teachers that their concerns would be conveyed to Governor Kefas.
Earlier, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Nathan Solomon, said the union’s national leadership shares the pain and concerns of teachers across the country over the persistent attacks on schools, particularly the recent abduction in Oyo State.
Represented by the chairperson of the Nigeria Women in Education Network, Mrs Gloria Kachibiri, Solomon said teachers were deeply saddened by the incident and called for urgent measures to secure the release of the abducted students and teachers.
He disclosed that the national leadership of the union had already issued a statement urging security agencies to expedite efforts to rescue the victims and prevent future attacks on educational institutions.
The NUT chairman further called on relevant authorities to strengthen security around schools, emphasising that teachers remain critical stakeholders in national development.
Also speaking during the rally, the Chief of Staff to Governor Agbu Kefas, Dr Jeji Williams, described the protest as a demonstration of national concern and solidarity.
The chairman of the Civil Service Commission, Mr Philip Kundila, noted that investments in education require time to yield meaningful results but expressed confidence that positive outcomes would eventually manifest.
Students who participated in the peaceful protest carried placards with various inscriptions expressing their pain, concern and demand for the immediate release of the abducted students and teachers.
