The National Association of Nigerian Students has announced plans to stage a major solidarity and advocacy protest in Oyo State over the continued abduction of dozens of students and teachers kidnapped by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The planned protest, scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026, comes amid growing nationwide outrage over the worsening insecurity affecting schools and the prolonged captivity of the victims nearly two weeks after the deadly attack.
President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed the development in a mobilisation letter addressed to NANS structures, student leaders, activists, and stakeholders across the country, calling for urgent collective action to pressure authorities into securing the release of the abducted victims.
According to him, Nigerian students could no longer remain silent while innocent school children and teachers continued to suffer in the hands of kidnappers without decisive intervention from security agencies.
Akinteye described the situation as heartbreaking and unacceptable, warning that the increasing attacks on schools posed a serious threat to education, safety, and national development.
He explained that the solidarity movement would involve visits to the affected schools, including Community High School/Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esiele; and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
The NANS leadership also disclosed plans to visit the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services as part of efforts to intensify advocacy for the rescue of the victims.
The protest movement will later culminate in a peaceful walk against insecurity in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, with students expected to demand stronger security measures around schools and communities.
In the invitation letter circulated nationwide, Akinteye lamented that despite the gravity of the attack, the abducted teachers and students had yet to regain freedom nearly two weeks after the incident occurred.
“At this critical crossroads, silence is no longer golden; we must act decisively and forthwith,” the NANS president stated while urging all student bodies and well-meaning Nigerians to join the movement.
The abduction incident, which has continued to generate nationwide concern, reportedly occurred after gunmen invaded Community High School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Oriire Local Government Area.
During the attack, seven teachers and 39 students were reportedly abducted by the assailants, throwing affected communities into fear and uncertainty.
Tragically, a teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was reportedly killed during the invasion, while a two-year-old toddler, Christianah Akanbi, was also said to be among those kidnapped by the gunmen.
The incident has intensified fresh concerns among education stakeholders, parents, and civil society groups over the rising vulnerability of schools, especially in rural communities where security presence remains inadequate.
Many Nigerians have continued to call on both the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to deploy stronger security operations capable of ensuring the safe return of the victims and preventing future attacks on educational institutions.
Security analysts have also warned that repeated attacks on schools could worsen the already alarming number of out-of-school children in Nigeria as fear and uncertainty discourage parents from sending their children to school.
The latest mobilisation by NANS is expected to further increase pressure on security agencies and government authorities to prioritise the rescue operation and restore confidence in the safety of schools across the country.
