Statement by Revolutionary Socialist Movement, the IsP afiliate in Nigeria
Members of the Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) participated in the protest held in Abuja on June 4th demanding the immediate release of all abducted schoolchildren and teachers currently held by kidnappers across the country, particularly the 39 students and seven teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The protest, which attracted approximately 500 participants, was organised to draw national attention to the worsening insecurity in Nigeria and to demand urgent action from the Federal Government to rescue all kidnapped victims. Protesters initially planned to march to and occupy the Presidential Villa to present their demands directly to the government.
However, upon reaching the vicinity of the Presidential Villa, they were met by a heavy barricade of soldiers and police officers who prevented them from proceeding further. At this point, human rights activist and presidential candidate of African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, addressed the protesters as well as the security personnel. In his remarks, he criticised the deployment of overwhelming security forces against peaceful demonstrators while many communities remain vulnerable to attacks by kidnappers and bandits. He argued that such determination and force would be better utilised in securing forests and other locations where abducted children and teachers are being held. The atmosphere was tense but peaceful. Following discussions among the organisers, protesters changed their route and marched from the Maitama/Wuse axis towards Wuse Market through the city centre.
Along the route, many residents, motorists, traders and passers-by joined or expressed solidarity with the protest. Protesters used the opportunity to raise awareness about the growing insecurity, poverty and social crisis facing the country while calling for fundamental political and economic change. Throughout the march, participants engaged members of the public on the need for collective action to challenge the policies of the ruling elite, which have failed to guarantee security, decent living conditions and basic social services for the masses. The protest concluded at Wuse Market, where activists addressed market women, traders and members of the public. Speakers called on ordinary Nigerians to add their voices to the campaign for the immediate rescue of the abducted children and teachers and to continue demanding accountability from the government.
Despite being prevented from reaching the Presidential Villa, the protest was highly successful. The march enabled activists to engage directly with thousands of ordinary people across Abuja and helped amplify the demand for the safe return of all kidnapped victims. The response from members of the public was overwhelmingly positive, particularly at Wuse Market, where many expressed frustration with the current administration and the worsening security situation across the country.
Many people openly stated that they were tired of the hardship, insecurity and economic difficulties facing working-class Nigerians. During the protest, reports also emerged of fresh cases of abduction in neighbouring Nasarawa State, further highlighting the spread of insecurity and the urgent need for decisive action. The participation of RSM members in this protest formed part of our continuing commitment to the defence of democratic rights, public education and the security of working people and their families.
The struggle for the release of all abducted children and teachers must continue until every victim is reunited with their family. The protest once again exposed the depth of the security crisis facing Nigeria today. From schools and farms to highways and even urban communities, ordinary people are increasingly forced to live in fear. This situation is not merely the result of inadequate security measures but a reflection of a failing system that places the interests of a privileged few above the welfare and safety of the majority.
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) reiterates the need for a fundamental change of the current political and economic system. Nigeria requires a society organised in the interests of the working class and the poor, where public resources are democratically controlled and directed towards quality education, job creation, social welfare and a well-equipped security system accountable to the people. Only a system that prioritises the needs and safety of ordinary citizens rather than the profits and privileges of a tiny elite can provide a lasting solution to insecurity. We call on workers, students, youths, market traders and all oppressed people to unite in the struggle for the immediate release of all abducted victims and for a socialist society where every child can go to school and every citizen can live without fear.
