… Teachers staged peaceful protest
….Victims beg for help
CITIZENS COMPASS—Abductors of some teachers and students of two schools in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, have beheaded one of the victims and released his video to the public l.
The male teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was captured in his last moments and was thereafter beheaded by his abductors.
Classroom activities in Ogbomoso, were shut down on Monday, as teachers staged a peaceful protest over the abduction of students and their colleagues in a school.
The teachers also protested against the killing of one of their colleagues, Michael Oyedokun, by the abductors.
The protest was held at the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) in the area.
The abduction occurred on Friday, in Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Ogbomoso Yawota area in Oriire Local Government Area of the State.
However, the incident was not in the news until the abductors released some disturbing videos online.
The videos captured two of the victims pleading for help from the government and well meaning Nigerians.
One of the victims was captured with a baby striped to her back.
Another of the videos captured Michael Oyedokun, being beheaded in the forest.
One of the videos captured a woman clad in a native attire who introduced herself as Mrs Alamu F.R. She said: I am the principal of Community High School, Esinele in Oriire Local Government of Oyo State.
On Friday at about 9.30, we were attacked by a certain group of people, and a good number of us were abducted: the staff and students as well and we have been here since Friday.
I am making this video to ask for help from everyone starting from the Federal Government of Nigeria, Oyo State Government, Governor Seyi Makinde, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and all well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid and settle this thing peacefully so that our lives will not be lost.
In the video, she was seen driving away insects that perched on her with her hands as she solicited for help.
Another video captured a woman with a baby striped on her back. She was shedding tears as she solicited for help:
I’m Dahunsi Temitope Mary. I am from Ibadan. I am working at First Baptist Church, Ogbomosho.
Yesterday, some people invaded our school and kidnapped teachers and children. We are here, we need help from the federal and state governments so that these people will release us. Please, help us. Tinubu please help us, Engineer Seyi Makinde, please help us. The children are here crying. We need
help….
During the protest, the teachers’ demands included improved security around schools and safer learning environments for both staff and students.
Reacting to the abduction, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, confirmed the teacher’s killing, pledging that the government would continue efforts to rescue the remaining abductees.
He said that seven teachers and a yet to be ascertained were abducted.
“What we know right now is that seven teachers were abducted. Unfortunately, we received a video this morning indicating that one of the teachers, understood to be the Mathematics teacher, was killed by the terrorists. Our prayers are with the family,” he said.
Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command has confirmed the abduction.
Spokesperson for the Command, Olayinka Ayanlade, in a statement, said: Consequently, the footage is presently undergoing comprehensive forensic examination to determine its authenticity and further aid ongoing investigations, rescue operations, as well as the identification and arrest of the perpetrators behind the heinous act.
The command reassured residents of its unwavering commitment towards ensuring the safe return and reunification of all abducted persons with their families.
To this end, intensive operational, intelligence-driven, and tactical efforts in collaboration with other security agencies are ongoing to secure the victims unharmed and bring all those responsible to justice.
The command, therefore, urged members of the public to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue to cooperate with the police and other security agencies by providing credible and timely information capable of assisting ongoing operations and investigations.
Members of the public are equally advised to refrain from sharing unverified information, misleading content, or materials capable of heightening tension and creating unnecessary panic, as such situations are often exploited by criminal elements and enemies of peace to further their sinister objectives.
Consequently, anyone with useful information capable of aiding the ongoing investigation, rescue operations, and arrest of the perpetrators is encouraged to promptly relay the same to the appropriate authorities or nearest security agency for immediate action.
