Women’s group protests kidnap of teachers

JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

The Women Committee of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State chapter, southern Nigeria, has described the abduction of three female teachers by kidnappers as kidnapping of Nigeria’s future.

The NLC women who carried placards with various inscriptions, protested through major streets in Benin City, including the ever busy city centre (Ring Road), causing traffic gridlock in the major roads.

Addressing journalists at the Reservation-Road Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Caroline Aikoriogie, Chairperson of the Women Committee, said women all over the state are in distress following the kidnap of the teachers.

“The kidnappers are demanding for N60 million ransom. Everybody knows that no civil servant in the country can afford such kind of money, let alone poor teachers.

“We want them to release these poor women to their family members unconditionally, because the kidnapping of these women amounts to kidnapping of our future,” Aikoriogie said.

The three teachers, Mrs. Patience Osadolor, Momodu Asiha and Patience Oroghene, were reportedly abducted at gunpoint at Orhogbua Primary School, Ekehuan village, Ovia North East local government of the state at gunpoint during school hours.

Following their abduction, teachers in the state have staged protests to demand for the release of their colleagues.

The angry teachers also blamed the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for giving the impression that they (teachers) were well-to-do, even though they were yet to be paid their salaries for the months of June and July, adding that it was unimaginable that teachers in the state have become targets for kidnappers.