By
Fidelis Jockthan
Teachers in Adamawa State on Tuesday joined their counterparts across Nigeria in a nationwide protest against the rising tide of school abductions, condemning the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oyo State, who remain in captivity.
The peaceful demonstration, which was joined by members of organized labor, saw protesters march through major streets to the Government House in Yola.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Faisal Mohammed, presented the position of the union’s national leadership to Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The protest was led by Comrade Emmanuel Fashe, Chairman of Organized Labour in Adamawa State, alongside Comrade Faisal Mohammed.
Decrying the persistent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers, Comrade Fashe called for a total security overhaul of educational institutions.
Upon arrival at the Government House, Comrade Mohammed outlined the union’s key demands, which include the full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration and the provision of enhanced security for both teachers and learners across the country.
The nationwide demonstrations, organized by the NUT in state capitals, are a direct response to the escalating crisis of insecurity in Nigeria’s education sector. Some affected areas in the Northeast include Gombi and Hong local government areas in Adamawa State and Askira-Uba in Borno State.
The union is specifically protesting the targeted abduction of educators and schoolchildren by armed groups. In highly affected areas, including Oyo State, the NUT has declared an indefinite strike, shutting down public schools until abducted colleagues and pupils are safely rescued. The union is also pressing the government to take immediate and concrete action to protect learning environments from further attacks.
Receiving the protesters at the Government House, the Chief of Staff, Dr. Amos Edgar, commended organized labor for the civility demonstrated and pledged to deliver the demands to the federal government for possible solution.
