IBADAN, OYO STATE – The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has officially mobilized its membership for a massive solidarity and advocacy protest in Oyo State, scheduled for Monday, June 1, 2026. This escalation comes as 39 students and seven teachers remain in the custody of kidnappers two weeks after being abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area.
A Call for Decisive Action
The NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, issued a formal statement on Friday, declaring that Nigerian students will no longer remain silent while pupils and educators languish in captivity. Describing the ongoing hostage situation as "heartbreaking, disturbing, and unacceptable," Afeez has called on all NANS structures, sister unions, and stakeholders to converge in Ibadan.
"At this critical crossroads, silence is no longer golden; we must act decisively and forthwith," Afeez stated. The protest is designed to mount pressure on security agencies and government authorities to intensify rescue efforts for the victims abducted on May 15, 2026, from Community High School/Grammar School, L.A. Primary School, and Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School.
Protest Objectives
The advocacy rally will include visits to the affected schools in Ahoro-Esiele to demonstrate solidarity with the families. Delegations are also scheduled to meet with the Oyo State Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to demand urgent intervention. The day will culminate in a peaceful procession through the streets of Ibadan to draw national attention to the escalating insecurity crisis in the state.
While the state government has assured the public that rescue operations remain active and discreet, student groups and civil society organizations continue to demand greater transparency and accelerated results to ensure the safety of the captives, who include children as young as two years old.
NANS Protest Over Abducted Students
This video provides additional context and visual coverage regarding the NANS mobilization and the growing public pressure surrounding the kidnapping incident in Oyo State.
