Protesters on Thursday converged on the Federal Capital Territory to demand the safe rescue of teachers and pupils abducted by bandits in three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15.

Some of the protesters who gathered near the Federal High Court building in the Central Business District, berated the President Bola Tinubu-led government over the rising insecurity in the country.

The protesters called on the government to rescue the Oyo hostages.

They chanted, “Tinubu is a failure,” with some holding placards with different inscriptions such as ‘We demanding safe school now,’ ‘Every child deserves a safe classroom,’ amongst others.

A human rights activist and 2027 presidential candidate of the, Omoyele Sowore, who was among those leading the protest, said “The struggle today is to force Tinubu to free those kids or resign.

“If he cannot free those kids as commander-in-chief, he should just pack his bag and return to his village in Osun State.”

The protesters walked alongside Mr Sowore around Three Arm Zone, close to the Aso Villa, singing “Rescue them or resign, free Nigerian children now.” 

However, security was tightened around the villa.

The abduction of pupils and teachers by bandits in Oyo State on May 15 sparked public outrage and protests as citizens prevail on the goverment to secure their release.

Last week, the Principal, Community High School Esinele, one of the three schools raided by the bandits, Rachael Alamu, in a video pleaded with the government to negotiate with their abductors to secure their freedom.