On May 13 and 14, armed gangs assaulted schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas in Borno State, kidnapping forty-two students.
On May 15, simultaneous attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in the state’s Oriire Local Government Area resulted in the kidnapping of an additional forty students.
During rescue operations, Michael Oyedokun, a math teacher, a motorcyclist, and a few security personnel were also killed in the Oyo attack.
Speaking to attendees at the demonstration, NUT FCT Chairman Abdullahi Shafa stated that the demonstration followed a decision from the union’s national headquarters.
“We are following this union’s National Headquarters’ instructions. The state chairman stated, “They told us, in every state of the federation, to start a solidarity rally in protest of what has happened to our teachers and students in parts of the country.”
Shafa bemoaned the teacher’s death and the ongoing assaults on teachers and pupils, calling the situation unsettling and harmful to the country’s educational progress.
“A kidnapped teacher in Oyo State was beheaded without any justification,” he said. This was a person who had devoted his life to teaching kids, but that was his destiny.
You are essentially depriving individuals in remote areas of access to education when you turn to kidnapping teachers. We have come out today to demonstrate to the government that educators around Nigeria are dissatisfied with the current situation,” he stated.
The gathering, according to the state chairman, was a one-day nonviolent demonstration meant to make a statement to the government.
“We have a straightforward message for the government: take greater initiative. Take good care of our instructors and students.
“Give them security.” Shafa pleaded, “Build perimeter fences around schools and upgrade educational infrastructure so that students and teachers can work in a safe environment.”
Regarding the union’s potential for future action, Shafa stated, “We do not pray that these incidents continue.” Our National Headquarters has instructed us to operate in this manner.
“The union’s national office will issue more directions if the situation continues. However, we have come out for a nonviolent demonstration today.
As the event came to an end, people calmly marched to send a letter to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, urging immediate action to secure schools, safeguard educators and students, and prosecute those responsible for attacks on educational establishments.
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