Bayelsa Students Protest Against Kidnappings

Students of Government Secondary School Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State protested against school kidnappings. Photo: Facebook | Gberenemi Ozu

On Tuesday, the protests started by the Nigeria Union of Teachers over abductions in Oyo State gained more support as schools in Bayelsa State joined in. Viral videos on social media showed schoolchildren and teachers in Bayelsa marching and singing songs, calling for the immediate rescue of students and teachers taken by terrorists.

In Sagbama Local Government Area, a video shared on Facebook by Golden Agagowei showed pupils from Community Primary School, Isoni. The pupils were out of their classrooms and lined up in their blue uniforms.

The children chanted, “Federal Government, release our students! Federal Government, release our teachers!” Pupils from Community Primary School Isoni in Sagbama LGA of Bayelsa State protested against school kidnappings. Photo: Facebook | Golden Agagowei

Alex Egbagara, the protest leader, spoke in the video and appealed to the presidency. He said, “We join the nationwide protest for the release of our kidnapped teachers and students in Oyo. Please, Federal Government, look into the matter and the cries of the Isoni community students.”

A similar protest took place in Ekeremor Local Government Area. Staff and students of Government Secondary School, Aleibiri, also marched. A video posted on Facebook by Gberenemi Ozu showed secondary students holding up placards and chanting the popular labour anthem: “Solidarity forever, we shall always fight for our right!”

The videos of schoolchildren singing and protesting have triggered reactions on social media. Citizens are expressing their sadness about the situation in the country. On Facebook, Daukoru Monigha wrote, “May the good Lord deliver our children for us.” Wisdom Minadoki added, “Let’s keep going till our voice is heard.”

Adire S. Kientimi commented, “This protest has to include all schools, both private and public, hence NUT has failed woefully. Because the children of government officials are in private schools.” On X (formerly Twitter), a user named #Clinton207O posted, “Very sad to see that children are already singing solidarity songs from a young age… Lord save our land.”

The protests in Bayelsa are part of a larger wave of demonstrations by the Nigeria Union of Teachers across the country. PUNCH reports that public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State were closed on Monday. This was in line with the NUT’s call for a nationwide protest against the ongoing kidnappings of pupils and teachers from schools in Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area.

The NUT protest has seen many demonstrations on Tuesday in Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kogi, and Plateau states. Teachers, civil society groups, and labour activists took to the streets to condemn the rising cases of school kidnappings. They are demanding the rescue of pupils and teachers recently taken in Oyo State.