Residents of Borno State have expressed concerns over the Federal Government’s prolonged silence since the abduction of 48 basic school pupils in Mussa community, Askira Uba Local Council of the state.

In Oyo, public schools were shut yesterday, as teachers embarked on a peaceful protest over the abduction of students and teachers in Ahoro-Esiele community, Oriire Local Council of the state.

Similarly, members of the Take-It-Back Movement yesterday staged a protest at the Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan, Oyo State, demanding urgent action to address rising insecurity and secure the release of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Council.

Also, residents of Ogun State staged a protest over the worsening insecurity in the country and the recent kidnapping of 39 pupils and seven teachers in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The aggrievedBorno residents noted that the government had prioritised a similar incident in Oyo, where pupils and teachers were kidnapped, while downplaying the abduction in the North Eaststate.

Speaking with The Guardianyesterday in a telephone interview in Maiduguri, Chairman of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state, Abubakar Suleiman, said the Federal Government is not fair to the victims of both incidents.

He said: “The Federal Government visited Oyo with a high-powered delegation, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), Minister of Defence, Chief of Staff to the President, among others, with a helicopter and landed at the local council where the abduction took place.

“In the case of Borno, around 416 people were kidnapped in Ngoshe on May 3. There has not been any Federal Government intervention. We also had another incident on May 16 in which 42 students were kidnapped in Askira Uba. There was no Federal Government delegation. This doesn’t demonstrate that the Federal Government is treating victims equally without any discrimination in the release of captives.”

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to intensify search-and-rescue operations for all the victims in captivity.

A prominent political analyst in the state, Abubakar Kareto, also echoed similar sentiments while condemning the attacks.

Meanwhile, the President of Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, Samaila Kaigama, urged political leaders in the state to emulate their counterparts in the South-West.

THE industrial action by the teachers followed a directive from the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Abuja, which called on members nationwide to stage peaceful demonstrations demanding the release of the kidnapped victims.

The shutdown affected public schools across the state’s 33 local councils, with classrooms deserted and academic activities suspended.

In Ibadan, schools in the 11 local councils were under lock and key, forcing many pupils who had arrived for classes to return home.

In Molete, Orita Challenge, New Garage and Odo-Ona areas, only final year secondary students writing terminal examinations were allowed access to school premises.

The protest coincided with a demonstration by concerned citizens who converged on Mokola and marched through major roads leading to Gate, attracting the attention of residents, motorists and business owners.

THE Ibadan protesters, who gathered at the busy intersection in the state capital, decried the growing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes across the state, urging both the Federal and Oyo State governments to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and restore public confidence in security.

Armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, the demonstrators expressed concern over what they described as the worsening security situation affecting residents, farmers, traders, commuters and students.
Some of the placards read: “Security for all, not for a few”, “Government must end kidnapping in Oyo State”, “We demand safer roads and communities”, “Protect farmers, traders and students” and “Peace, security and justice”.

One of the protesters said citizens were becoming increasingly frustrated by persistent security challenges and what they perceived as inadequate responses from the authorities.

“Let them know that the people of Nigeria are not at peace. Let them know that the people of Oyo are not smiling. Let them know that Nigerians are fed up with insecurity,” the protester said.

THE Ogun protesters, comprising youths and nursing mothers, took to major streets in Abeokuta yesterday with placards of various inscriptions such as “The crime they committed is they went to school, release our children and teachers”, “Stop brutality, kidnapping, banditry”, “Stop insecurity, Nigeria is falling apart”, “Our future is crying for help!!! help!!! help!!!”, “Let us believe in our country again”, “Bring back our school children”, “End terrorism in Nigeria”, among others.

One of the abductees from Community Grammar School, Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher, was reportedly killed by the terrorists

Speaking on behalf of the demonstrators at the Panseke skating ground in Abeokuta, a pastor identified as Juwon Owolabi, lamented that residents could no longer sleep well as they do not know who the next victim will be.

Owolabi insisted that the country is at a tipping point where no one, including the rich or poor, is safe, asserting that even businesses could not go on.