Members of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) have commenced a nationwide protest over the abducted Ogbomoso schoolchildren and teachers.
The national body of the NUT had on Sunday declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State, urging all state chapters of the union to stage solidarity rallies across the country over the abductees.
ANCOPSS National Secretary, Tawo Akuben, said the leadership had directed all school principals nationwide to join the protest.
He said the directive was in response to the emotional and psychological trauma experienced by the abducted victims and their families.
According to him, the National President of ANCOPSS, Dr. Robert Ike Okorie, instructed state presidents, including the FCT, to mobilise principals in every state capital for solidarity rallies with the NUT.
ANCOPSS noted that an injury to one is an injury to all, urging members to participate in the protest and document the exercise with pictorial evidence.
Protests have however commenced in several parts of the country, while gathering momentum in others.
In Lagos, protesters marched from the Balogun area of Ikeja towards the Alausa Secretariat, blocking sections of the road while chanting solidarity songs.
NUT members converged at union secretariats across states before proceeding to designated protest routes.
The development follows earlier protests held in Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Abeokuta over the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers.
On May 15, about 39 students and seven teachers were abducted across three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
During the attack, gunmen killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist, while one of the abducted teachers was later reportedly beheaded by the kidnappers.
Government officials, including the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, as well as a federal delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, have visited affected communities.
President Bola Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit to secure the release of the victims.
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