By Ijeoma Agbafo
Anxiety continues to mount over the fate of pupils, students, and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as they have now spent 39 days in captivity.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when gunmen attacked schools, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, in what has been described as one of the most significant school abductions recorded in South-West Nigeria in recent years.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage and protests across Oyo State and other parts of the country, with concerned groups demanding the immediate rescue of the hostages.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) had, in early June, embarked on an indefinite strike and organised demonstrations to press for the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Protests were held in Ibadan and other locations, drawing participation from teachers, students, civil society organisations, and residents.
The demonstrations were marked by calls for improved security around schools and stronger measures to tackle kidnapping and other violent crimes.
More recently, social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, led a protest in Oyo State, urging authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
The abduction has also renewed discussions on school safety and broader security challenges facing the country.
As families and communities continue to await positive news, security agencies are said to be sustaining efforts to rescue the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
