Lagos residents defied heavy rainfall on Tuesday to stage a peaceful protest over worsening insecurity across the country. The demonstrators marched from Ikeja Under Bridge to the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, insisting that weather would not silence their demand for urgent government action.

Led by the Lagos State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, the protesters were joined by concerned citizens, parents and civil society groups. Their placards focused on the growing wave of kidnappings, with special emphasis on the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers. The march came days after over 40 pupils and 7 teachers were kidnapped in Oriire LGA, Oyo State on May 15, 2026.

Speaking to the crowd, Lagos NUT Chairman Comrade Akintoye Mujeeb said teachers could no longer stay silent while schools become targets. “Enough is enough. How many people will these bandits continue to kill? They have been killing us, and now we are saying enough is enough,” he declared. The union gave the Federal Government a one-week ultimatum to take decisive steps against insecurity and secure the release of those in captivity.

The protesters maintained that the safety of children must be prioritized. Many parents in the crowd said they joined because they could no longer send their children to school without fear. “Insecurity can no longer be ignored,” one protester said, echoing the group’s central message as they stood firm despite the downpour.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, addressed the protesters and commended them for conducting the demonstration peacefully. He renewed calls for state policing and assured them that the House would continue to push for stronger security measures. Security personnel were deployed to maintain order throughout the protest.

The Lagos protest was part of a nationwide NUT rally that also held in Oyo, Ogun, Delta, Anambra and the FCT on the same day, all demanding the release of abducted teachers and students.

Sources: Vanguard News, Punch Newspapers.