Falana calls for urgent action to rescue kidnapped Oyo schoolchildren and teachers during Lagos protest

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has asked for the quick rescue of pupils and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State. He warned that the victims are facing severe suffering in captivity.

Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), made this appeal on Friday during a June 12 protest in Lagos. Demonstrators gathered to express their anger over insecurity, economic hardship, and what they see as a decline in democratic values in the country.

The protest took place under the Ikeja Bridge and became tense when supporters and counter-protesters met at the same spot. Police had to step in to keep order during the Democracy Day events.

He pointed out that the protest was not just about the kidnapped schoolchildren. It was also about broader issues affecting Nigerians, like rising poverty and claims of injustice by security agencies.

Mr Falana said the ongoing kidnappings of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states show that the security crisis is getting worse. He noted that the kidnapped victims have spent weeks in harsh conditions.

“Those kids are suffering. No medical attention, no food for them,” he said. He added that Nigerians, in a larger sense, are also “in custody” because of worsening national conditions.

He called for immediate action from the authorities to secure the release of the victims and their teachers. His comments follow recent mass kidnappings of schoolchildren that have raised alarms about safety across the country.

In May, gunmen attacked schools in the Ahoro Esinle community in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. They kidnapped dozens of pupils and teachers in a well-planned attack that shocked local residents. Governor Seyi Makinde later revealed that one of the abducted teachers was killed, and security agencies arrested several suspects linked to the incident.

The Oyo attack happened just a day after another mass kidnapping in Borno State. Armed men raided three schools in the Mussa community and took away many children, some as young as two to five years. Witnesses said the attackers escaped on motorcycles, using the children as human shields to avoid being caught by security forces.

These incidents have added to a long list of school kidnappings that have affected Nigeria in recent years. They set the stage for Mr Falana’s call for the government to step up efforts to rescue the remaining captives and deal with the country's worsening security crisis.

Mr Falana also mentioned that one of the kidnapped teachers was killed. He described this act as a violent attempt to push the government to act faster in rescuing the children.

“As you are well aware, a teacher has been beheaded in order to convince the government to move speedily to have those children released,” he said.

The protest was part of a nationwide action by a coalition of civil society groups, trade unions, youth organizations, faith-based groups, and other social movements. They declared June 12 as a day of mass action to address insecurity and worsening economic conditions.

The coalition, which includes Mr Falana, activist Hassan Taiwo, labor leaders, and other civic actors, said the demonstration aimed to push the government to tackle insecurity, rising poverty, and policies worsening hardship across the nation.

Mr Falana also condemned what he called injustice against young Nigerians, including arbitrary arrests on highways. He criticized the high levels of poverty in the country despite its resources.

He noted that Nigeria's journey to true democracy is still incomplete. He argued that what we have is not full democracy but civilian rule.

“We also want to thank you for coming out today to mark the June 12 anniversary,” he said. “There is no democracy in Nigeria. What we have is civil rule. The struggle for democracy must continue.”

He thanked protesters and journalists for being part of the demonstration and covering it. He encouraged ongoing civic engagement on governance and accountability.

Earlier, the atmosphere at the venue became tense when another group, calling itself “Team Nigeria,” held a counter-rally in support of President Bola Tinubu. Both groups set up loudspeakers and music systems, each trying to make their presence felt, leading to a brief standoff until security forces intervened.

Police were deployed to restore calm and prevent further clashes, while both groups were kept apart to avoid conflicts. The protest was part of activities marking June 12 Democracy Day, which has become a platform for civic groups and activists to voice concerns about insecurity and economic challenges in the country.