Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, on Tuesday criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, during a protest in Abuja organised by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT chapter, over insecurity and the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers.
The demonstration centred on recent kidnappings reported in parts of Oyo State and other regions, with protesters demanding stronger government intervention to secure the release of victims and improve protection in schools.
Speaking at the entrance of the FCT Minister’s office, Sowore directly responded to Wike’s earlier comments that insecurity should not be politicised, dismissing the statement and accusing him of insensitivity to victims.
“He is a foolish man, and I am saying it in front of his office,” Sowore said. “He is lucky I did not meet him here when he was saying that rubbish.”
He added that the minister’s position reflected a misunderstanding of the crisis. “How can you say people should not politicise insecurity when the reality of insecurity is the product of failed policies?” he said.
Sowore explained that he joined the protest after being informed by leaders of the teachers’ union about their mobilisation. According to him, the situation affecting schools reflects a wider national crisis involving multiple states.
“This morning I was informed by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, FCT chapter, that they will be having a protest today to fight for these kids held in terrorist camps in Oyo State and across the country,” he said.
He said cases of abduction were not limited to one region. “A lot of children are kidnapped across the country — in Borno, Katsina, Kaduna, and even Ekiti — and many have not been rescued for months,” he said.
Sowore also said security operatives attempted to restrict access to the protest before demonstrators eventually forced their way through barricades.
“When we got here, the police were trying to block us as usual. We had to push through the barricade before the teachers could deliver their message,” he said.
He clarified that he was not part of the protest leadership and said his presence was in solidarity. He also referenced a separate planned protest.
“Our own protest is coming up on Thursday, and we are moving to Aso Rock Villa if these children are not rescued by then,” he said.
Sowore criticised what he described as weak government responses to insecurity and warned against dismissing abductions as rumours or exaggerations.
“This is what happens when insecurity is not taken seriously. You end up turning it into rumour, and people begin to react irrationally,” he said.
He also argued that armed groups now move more freely than ordinary citizens, while critics of government policy face quicker enforcement actions.
“Terrorists have been moving freely across the country,” he said. “The only people who don’t have freedom are those speaking truth to power.”
Sowore further questioned the effectiveness of federal security strategies, including surveillance and forest security initiatives, saying promised measures had not been fully delivered.
Turning to political leadership, he criticised President Bola Tinubu and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, arguing that both administrations had failed to curb insecurity.
He called for their resignation, insisting that continued failure to protect citizens should have political consequences.
“As far as I am concerned, Makinde and Tinubu should resign,” he said. “The president has failed in his duty as Commander-in-Chief and should not continue in office.”
The protest ended with calls for urgent government intervention and the immediate rescue of abducted students and teachers across affected states.
