By Our Correspondent
Worried by non release of the abducted students and teachers of Oriire government school in Oyo state,Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), civil society organisations and other residents of Ogun State on Tuesday joined the nationwide protest against the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.

The demonstration followed the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers during attacks on several schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State about two weeks ago.

The affected schools are Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinle, as well as Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota.

Our reporter gatheted that one of the abducted teachers from Community Grammar School, Mr Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher, was reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers.

The protest came a day after some Ogun residents, including nursing mothers, staged a similar demonstration on Monday.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Set Our Teachers and Pupils Free,” “Stop the Attacks on Schools,” “Release Our Teachers and Learners Unconditionally,” and “Government Must Rise Up to Its Security Responsibilities,” the protesters marched through major streets in Abeokuta to Governor’s office, Oke-Mosan.

Other messages on the banners read: “One Abducted Child, One Nation in Chains,” “NUT Stands in Solidarity with Its Members in Captivity,” and “Nigeria, Our Blackboards Are Turning into Graveyards.”

The demonstrators also sang solidarity songs and used megaphones to draw public attention to what they described as the growing threat insecurity poses to education.

“Electricity, zero. Security, zero. The only system we are managing is education, and now they want to collapse it. We will resist all such plans,” some of the protesters chanted.

Speaking with journalists, the National Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Yinka Folarin, called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward rescuing the victims and protecting lives.

He said the protest was also aimed at raising public awareness on the need for citizens to support efforts against terrorism and violence.

“As a matter of responsibility, we are not supposed to live in fear in our own country. Government must create an enabling environment, while citizens must support efforts toward maintaining peace and sustainable security.

“We are in a dilemma as a nation. Our freedom of movement is no longer guaranteed, and we continue to witness the dehumanisation and humiliation of innocent victims. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Every well-meaning Nigerian must rise to speak for the voiceless,” Folarin said.

Also speaking, the National President of the NUT, Comrade Titus Amba, represented by the union’s National Vice-President, Comrade Titilope Adebanjo, lamented that teachers and students now attend classes under constant fear.

He appealed to President Bola Tinubu to treat the matter as urgent and ensure the immediate release of the abductees.

“Education remains one of the few enduring legacies we have as a nation. It is unfortunate that insecurity is threatening to destroy it. Teachers are in classrooms with fear, students are in classrooms with fear. This should not be so,” he said.

The Ogun State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Hameed Benco, expressed frustration over the situation, warning that the protest could be followed by more drastic actions if the government fails to act.

“We want all the abductees released. This nationwide protest is to express our feelings to the Federal Government. If nothing is done, further actions may follow. We expect the government to act now,” he said.

Benco also urged residents to support security efforts by reporting suspicious activities, while calling on the Ogun State Government to strengthen intelligence-driven policing.

Similarly, the Ogun State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Sewakanu Oladipupo, urged the government to reinforce security architecture across the country to prevent further attacks on schools.

“Seeing our members treated like criminals is frightening. This is a traumatic period for teachers across Nigeria. We are all living in fear. No one feels safe,” he said.

Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) in Ogun State, Comrade Adejoke Bello, also expressed concern over the welfare of the abducted children.

“These children are too young to be subjected to the psychological and emotional trauma they are currently facing,” she said.

By Our Correspondent

Irked by the continues detention of students and techers by kidnappers in Oriire Local Government of Oyo state, a of wave of peaceful protest swept across major streets in Ibadan metropolis on Monday as members of civil society organizations, students and organized labour unions vent their anger against inability of the government to rescue 38 students and teachers abducted by armed men two weeks ago in Oriire Local Government of Oyo state.

As early as 7.30am, the protesters gathered at different points in the city to demand for the immediate release of the students and teachers in the forest.

At Mokola round about, Queen Cinema to Dugbe , Sango, Agbowo University of Ibadan to Oyo state Government Secretariat, the aggrieved protesters took to the streets chanting anti government songs to press for their demands.

There were a handful of security personnel at Mokola and Main Gate of the Government Secretariat to maintain peace and order .

The procession which quickly attract other members of the public caused traffic logjam as motorists and pedestrians struggle to navigate the human traffic .

There was anger and desperation as a massive crowd of youths, teachers, and school-aged children blocked key traffic routes to demand the immediate rescue of students and teachers kidnapped in Ogbomoso.

The protesters were seen brandishing placards reading “#BringBackOurChildren” and “#47Abducted.”

The protest was organized in part by the Take-It-Back Movement,as well as other groups.

The public demonstration follows a harrowing wave of insecurity in Oyo State that took a tragic turn on May 15, when gunmen raided three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area.

The attackers abducted 38 students and seven teachers, killing an assistant headmaster and a local motorcyclist during the raid.

Outrage intensified nationwide after the kidnappers recently beheaded Michael Oyedokun, one of the captured teachers.

The crisis grew even more agonizing after Rachael Alamu, a school principal held in the forest, appeared in a desperate Instagram video warning that the kidnappers are threatening to execute another hostage unless the government immediately negotiate their release.

Some of the leaders of the groups, Mr Kayode Babayomi and Mr Femi Adeyeye while addressing the crowd sharply criticized both the state and federal governments for failing to protect ordinary citizens, warning that the security situation is deteriorating by the day.

The boiling frustration has already triggered a major labor crisis, with the Nigerian Union of Teachers declaring an indefinite strike in Oyo State.

Following a directive from national union leaders Audu Amba and Clinton Ikpitibo, teachers across Nigeria are now preparing to hold massive solidarity rallies, a move confirmed by local union secretary Salami Olukayode.

It would be recalled that the Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde visited the distraught families of the victims on Saturday, while a high-powered federal delegation including Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila and National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu flew into Ogbomoso to assess the situation.

President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the deployment of a specialized security unit equipped with advanced rescue capabilities.

However, the protesters have vowed to occupy the streets of Ibadan until the government release the abducted students and teachers in the forest.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

Five persons have been convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by a Minna High Court number four for armed robbery.

Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed who handed the verdict held that all the issues raised by the prosecuting counsel from the office of the Attorney General Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi Esq, has been resolved in favour of the prosecuting counsel and against the convicts.

They were arraigned on three count charges which included criminal conspiracy,armed robbery and causing previous hurt.

The convicts were arraigned by the Attorney General of Niger State under an offences punishable under the provision sections 1(1) and 2 (A) of the Robbery and firearms (special provisions) Act Cap 11 laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, section 247 of the penal code law,and Cap 94 laws of Niger State.

The five convicts include Mikisal Ibrahim,Abubakar Ibrahim, Anthony Ibrahim, Aliyu Mohammed and Murtala Junaidu,all residents of Minna the capital of Niger State.

According to the prosecuting counsel,the five convicts had on the 9th, of July 2023, at about 2.15 am invaded the the residence of one Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdullahi of T alakawa Pharmacy in Tunga area of Minna armed themselves with dangerous weapons which include, matchet, cutlasses and cudgel and robbed him some of his valuables and cash amount of N250,000

During the operations which lasted for over three hours according to the Prosecuting counsel, they held his entire households hostages “at the end they dispossessed him of four handset and HP laptop belonging to his daughters and jewelries”

Four witnesses which include the investigating Police officers,from the State Criminal investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID( and his daughters testified against the convicts.

While giving his verdicts which lasted for over two hours,Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed held that all the issues raised and evidences as well as the testimonies of the five convicts,the Prosecuting counsel Mohammed Aliyu Kutigi has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and they are found guilty of the three count charges brought against them.

“ Having perused all the evidence and the testimonies as well as the witnesses testimony of the defendants before the Police, the whole issue
raised is resolved in favour of the prosecuting and against the defendant they are hereby convicted accordingly.

“ Having resolved the issue raised against the defendants,they are hereby sentenced to death by hanging until they are confirmed death” Justice Mohammed Mohammed ruled.