A wave of anger and public outrage swept across parts of Nigeria on Thursday as citizens staged protests and demanded urgent government action over the worsening insecurity ravaging the country.
Scores of Nigerians on Thursday took to the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to protest the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The demonstrators, who gathered in large numbers, demanded the immediate rescue of the victims while expressing frustration over the country’s worsening security situation.
During the protest, participants chanted slogans such as “Tinubu must go,” “Rescue them or resign,” and “Bring Nigerian children now,” calling on the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Addressing onlookers, one of the protesters accused political leaders of failing to adequately tackle insecurity and urged Nigerians to speak out against the growing wave of kidnappings.
“Oga, Tinubu must go. You see what is happening today. You people are also part of it. Take this video. I’m going to post it to you. I don’t need any permission. You are a big man. Oga, go and tell people that you witnessed this thing,” the protester said.
The demonstration comes days after gunmen kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area, triggering widespread condemnation and calls for urgent government intervention.
The development has also drawn reactions from various groups, including the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), whose members staged protests across several states on Monday, demanding the immediate rescue of the victims
Similarly, former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s choice of advisers and associates, claiming the President is not receiving the quality counsel required to effectively govern the country.
Akande, who served as media aide to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said one of the major challenges facing the administration is the calibre of people surrounding the President.
“The kind of people a leader or the president surrounds himself with, I have said this several times, that one of the problems with our president today is that he has managed to surround himself with second-class, third-class, low-level people,” Akande said.
According to him, the situation has deprived the President of the advice needed to tackle critical national issues.
“And that is the problem because he is not getting the kind of counsel he needs,” he added.
Akande stressed that the government’s focus should be on confronting criminality and insecurity rather than political distractions, insisting that anyone found culpable of wrongdoing should face the law.
“Our business is that there is a crime, there should be punishment and that is why the president is called the Commander-In-Chief,” he said.
He further urged Tinubu to take stronger action in addressing the country’s security challenges, noting that the President possesses both the constitutional authority and governance experience to do so.
“There is a reason why that title is fixed to the president, the Commander-In-Chief; there shouldn’t be anybody that the president can’t tackle for the security of the country,” Akande stated.
“We have a president who has the pedigree in terms of governance. Mr President, sit up.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has called on all Nigerians, the media, civil society organisations, and security agencies to strengthen collaboration in the fight against terrorism and other forms of violent extremism threatening national peace and security.
Speaking at a National Press Briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said defeating terrorism requires a united national response that transcends political, ethnic, religious, and regional differences.
“The Federal Government is rallying citizens, the media, and security agencies in a united front against terrorism because an attack against one Nigerian is an attack against all Nigerians. Terrorism has no tribe, no religion, and no political affiliation. Its only purpose is destruction,” said Idris, noting that this is the basis for the national call to action, #UniteAgainstTerror, which urges all Nigerians to stand together against violent extremism and criminality.
The Minister assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully committed to securing the safe return of all abducted schoolchildren and teachers recently taken captive in separate attacks in Oyo and Borno States. “I wish to assure all Nigerians that the safe return of every child and every teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority. The President has made it clear that no child belongs in captivity and that no effort will be spared in ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice.”
He disclosed that security agencies, working under the direct instruction of the President, have intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance operations, and coordinated rescue efforts aimed at securing the release of the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Highlighting recent security gains recorded across the country, the Minister noted that troops under Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East have continued to neutralise terrorists, rescue civilians, and destroy terrorist infrastructure. He added that over 50 terrorists were recently eliminated in follow-up operations in Borno State, while dozens of high-value targets have been taken out through coordinated military actions.
He further stated that security operations across the North-West, North-Central, South-East, and South-South regions have led to the dismantling of criminal camps, disruption of kidnapping syndicates, and increased protection of critical national assets.
According to the Minister, Nigeria’s counter-terrorism efforts are increasingly yielding results because of improved inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and stronger international partnerships. “What distinguishes our current approach is the combination of military pressure, intelligence-led operations, technology, regional cooperation, and community engagement. This comprehensive strategy is steadily degrading the operational capacity of terrorist and criminal groups,” he said.
The Minister also pointed to major judicial breakthroughs in the fight against terrorism, including the recent convictions secured against perpetrators of the June 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, where scores of worshippers lost their lives.
He noted that the Federal Government has also commenced one of the largest terrorism prosecution exercises in Nigeria’s history, with hundreds of terrorism suspects currently undergoing trial under the country’s counter-terrorism legal framework. “Justice is an essential pillar of national security. Beyond military operations, the government is ensuring that those involved in acts of terrorism face the full weight of the law. The ongoing terrorism trials and recent convictions send a clear message that impunity will not prevail,” the Minister said.
The Minister also appealed to the media to exercise professionalism and restraint in reporting terrorism-related incidents, noting that terrorists often seek publicity and psychological impact through their actions. “While the media must continue to report accurately and responsibly, we must be careful not to inadvertently amplify the objectives of terrorists. Responsible journalism can help deny them the publicity they seek while keeping citizens properly informed,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, support security agencies with credible information, and reject narratives designed to divide communities along ethnic, religious, or political lines.
The Minister reiterated that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property and assured citizens that ongoing security operations would continue until terrorism and violent criminality are decisively defeated. “Nigeria has faced difficult moments before and emerged stronger. We shall overcome this challenge as well. United in purpose and unwavering in resolve, we will ensure that terrorism has no future in Nigeria,” he said.
He expressed confidence that with the continued support of citizens and stakeholders, Nigeria would overcome the threat of terrorism and build a safer, more secure future for all.
