Teachers under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, on Tuesday took to the street nationwide to protest the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo and Borno states about three weeks ago.
In Oyo State, where teachers had protested on Monday over the same issue, Tuesday’s protest marked the second day of teachers showing displeasure about the ugly developments.
Reports from across the country indicated that teachers were on the street in Ibadan, Lokoja, Abuja, Maiduguri, Ikeja etc.
In Lagos State, the protesting teachers commenced their protest from Ikeja Under Bridge and marched all the way to the seat of government in Alausa.
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The protesting teachers, led by the Lagos State NUT Chairman, Comrade Akintoye Hassan, marched to the Lagos State House of Assembly and Government House, expressing outrage over the continued attacks on innocent citizens, including students and teachers.
Addressing the protesters, Hassan declared that teachers could no longer remain silent in the face of growing insecurity.
“Enough is enough. How many people will these bandits continue to kill? They have been killing us, and now we are saying enough is enough,” he said.
He noted that the protest was aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the urgent need to halt the killings and kidnappings that have continued to threaten the safety of Nigerians.
The NUT chairman emphasized that teachers across the country were united in demanding stronger measures to protect lives and ensure the safety of schools and communities.
Responding to the protesters, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, commended the teachers for conducting themselves peacefully and lawfully.
He praised the protesters for presenting their grievances without violence or disruption of public order and also commended security personnel for maintaining peace during the demonstration.
Obasa said the Lagos Assembly shares the concerns of Nigerians over the worsening security situation and assured the teachers that their message would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities.
“We are all concerned about the situation, particularly the incident that occurred in Oyo State. I commend you for refusing to fold your hands and remain silent while these events are taking place,” he said.
The Speaker stressed that insecurity is a national challenge that requires collective action from all levels of government and citizens.
He reiterated the Assembly’s longstanding support for the establishment of state police, describing it as a critical step toward addressing security challenges across the country.
According to him, the Lagos State House of Assembly has consistently advocated for state policing and has enacted laws and resolutions aimed at improving security and public safety.
Obasa also urged state governments, local government authorities, traditional rulers, community leaders, parents, and other stakeholders to work together to protect lives and property.
