Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has joined the ongoing protest by residents and teachers to demand the release of the abducted children in Oyo.
In a now-trending video, Sowore joined protesters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where he promised his continued support.
During the protest, the activist criticised the presidency for failing in its duty to protect citizens’ lives and property.
“We are not begging anybody. We are just asking people who claim they are elected to protect to do their work,” Sowore said.
“It would have been great if the number of policemen who are preventing this can protect our schools. Your children are also in schools. And if the school becomes a ground for kidnapping, one day your children too will be kidnapped. I hope not.
“This is a time for everybody to come together, use common sense, and do what is right. Very soon, there will be more of this protest. This is just the beginning. We will not go anywhere.
“On Thursday, we are going to Aso Rock Villa if the children are not rescued. You cannot claim to be president of Nigeria and refuse to do the job of the commander of the armed forces.”
On Monday, some residents of Ogbomoso and Ibadan kicked off a protest to demand the immediate rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
The protest follows a mass demonstration held earlier in the day in Ibadan, the state capital, over the plight of the victims abducted on May 15.
The emotional scenes were not limited to Ogbomoso. During the protest in Ibadan, a female tricycle operator caught in the resulting traffic gridlock was overwhelmed with emotion as she appealed to authorities to rescue the victims.
On Sunday, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) declared an indefinite strike in the state, demanding the urgent rescue of the abducted victims and improved security measures.
In a circular dated May 29, 2026, and signed by Audu Amba, NUT president, and Clinton Ikpitibo, secretary general, the union directed all state chapters to hold solidarity rallies nationwide on Tuesday.
In a statement on Sunday, the state wing of the union, signed by Salami Olukayode, confirmed full compliance with the directive.
The development follows the May 15 abduction of about 39 students and seven teachers across three schools in Oriire LGA.
During the attack, an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist were killed.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the kidnappers, triggering nationwide outrage.
In separate videos posted on Instagram, Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, also among those abducted, said the kidnappers had threatened to kill another victim, urging authorities to urgently negotiate for their release.
On Saturday, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo state, visited families of the victims in affected communities, while a federal delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser, visited Ogbomoso on Sunday.
Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to secure the release of the victim.
About the Author
