Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has issued an impassioned plea for the immediate release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, warning that the prolonged captivity of dozens of victims is causing untold suffering as they are held in harsh conditions without food or medical attention. Falana made the remarks on Friday, June 12, 2026, while addressing a large crowd of demonstrators in the nation's capital, as part of a nationwide protest organised by a coalition of civil society groups against worsening insecurity and economic hardship.
The protest, which coincided with Nigeria's 27th Democracy Day celebration, drew thousands of citizens demanding concrete action from the government. Speaking passionately, Falana connected the fate of the abducted victims to broader governance failures. "We are protesting kidnapping of our children in Oyo State, we are also protesting injustice in our country, a situation whereby innocent school children in Oyo and Borno State have been in the custody of criminals for several weeks now," he told the crowd. The learned silk argued that Nigeria possesses abundant natural, material, and capital resources to ensure the happiness of its people, and that the persistence of poverty and hunger is unacceptable.
The case that has drawn the lawyer's ire dates back to May 15, 2026, when gunmen launched coordinated attacks on three schools: Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinle, both located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. Security sources have confirmed that the heavily armed assailants rounded up students and staff members before marching them into nearby forests. In total, 39 students and seven teachers were abducted, though some sources have placed the number of victims as high as 46. The attackers also reportedly killed a teacher during the initial raid, heightening concerns over the fate of the remaining captives.
Describing the conditions of the abductees, Falana stated that reports from inside the captivity indicate a desperate situation. "Those kids are suffering. No medical attention, no food for them. And so for us as Nigerians, all of us are in custody, one way or the other," he lamented, calling on the government to accelerate rescue efforts. The senior advocate further made the grave allegation that the abductors have executed one of the captive teachers in what he described as a calculated move to pressure authorities into speeding up negotiations. "As you are well aware, a teacher has been beheaded in order to convince the government to move speedily to have those children released," Falana told the protesters.
The protest on Democracy Day was the culmination of a week-long mobilisation led by a coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, and youth groups. In a statement released on June 10, 2026, the coalition, which included the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and the #EndBadGovernance Movement, had declared June 12 as a day of "mass action" against worsening insecurity and economic hardship. Prominent rights activist Yinka Folarin, rapper Falz, and several other civil society leaders co-signed the declaration. The coalition demanded the immediate release of Nigerians held captive in Oyo, Borno, Ekiti, Kwara and other states, while lamenting that official assurances of improved security have failed to translate into safety on the ground.
As the captives remain in their 28th day of captivity, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has provided the most significant update on their whereabouts, revealing that the victims are believed to be held within the expansive Old Oyo National Park corridor, a vast forested area that spans approximately 2,500 square kilometres across 10 local government areas. In his weekly newsletter released on Friday, the governor admitted that repeated assurances may have become difficult for families to accept as the days pass without the victims' return. "For 27 days, families have gone to bed without their loved ones. For 27 days, communities have lived with uncertainty. For 27 days, our children and teachers have remained in captivity," Makinde wrote, expressing deep distress over the prolonged ordeal. He assured residents that all necessary resources have been deployed to ensure the safe rescue of the captives, and that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been providing aerial surveillance to support search-and-rescue operations since shortly after the abduction.
The abduction and the government's response have cast a dark shadow over the Democracy Day celebrations. In his national broadcast, President Bola Tinubu acknowledged that "the mood is dampened by the abduction of our children in Oyo and Borno," expressing optimism for their safe return. However, for Falana and the thousands who marched, the message was clear: the time for condolences has passed, and the nation demands action. "What we have is civil rule. The struggle for democracy must continue," the senior advocate declared, as he vowed to keep up the pressure until every captive is freed and every Nigerian is safe from the scourge of insecurity.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments