Delta teachers protest insecurity, demand release of abducted colleagues

Teachers across Delta state on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest against the rising wave of insecurity and kidnappings targeting schools and education personnel across the country, calling for the immediate release of abducted colleagues and students.

The protest, organised in line with a directive from the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), began at about 9:00 a.m. from the Teachers’ House on DLA Road, Asaba.

Participants, drawn from the 25 local government areas of the state, marched through major streets of the capital to the Government House, chanting solidarity songs and displaying placards with messages demanding improved security and the rescue of abducted victims, particularly those recently kidnapped in Oyo State.

The demonstration was led by Comrades Poubeni Dickson and Dan Basime, the Delta State NUT chairman and secretary.

Addressing the protesters on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Kingsley Emu, the secretary to the state government commended the teachers for conducting themselves peacefully and acknowledged the concerns raised over insecurity.

Emu said the state government remained committed to protecting lives and property, describing insecurity as a national challenge affecting all Nigerians regardless of profession or location.

“Insecurity is not a friend to anybody,” he said, noting that its impact extends beyond direct victims to families and the wider society.

He also referenced the emotional toll of recent abductions across the country, including the case of an abducted school principal in Oyo State, describing it as a reminder of the human cost of insecurity.

The teachers, in their remarks, cited repeated attacks on schools and educators across Nigeria, including the 2014 Chibok abduction and more recent incidents in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Yobe, Oyo, Kwara, and Delta.

They warned that insecurity was no longer confined to the North, pointing to attacks and killings of educators in parts of Delta State as evidence of a growing national crisis.

The union criticised existing security measures, arguing that government interventions such as forest guard recruitment were insufficient to address the scale of violence affecting schools.

They called for enhanced security around educational institutions, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger inter-agency coordination to protect teachers and students.

The union further warned that failure to secure the release of abducted colleagues could lead to further industrial action, including a possible nationwide shutdown of schools.

According to the teachers, the safety of educators and learners must be treated as a national priority, stressing that no teacher should be forced to risk their life in the course of performing their duties.

The protest followed recent abductions of schoolchildren and teachers in parts of Oyo State and Borno State, which have continued to spark nationwide concern over school safety.