Femi Falana, SAN, human rights lawyer, has called for the immediate rescue of schoolchidren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
He warned that the victims are enduring severe hardship in captivity.
Falana made the appeal on Friday during a June 12 protest held under the Ikeja Bridge in Lagos.
The demonstrators gathered to decry insecurity, economic hardship and what they described as a declining democratic culture in the country.
The protest was later marked by tension after supporters and counter-protesters converged on the same venue, forcing police intervention to prevent a breakdown of order during Democracy Day commemorations.
Falana stated that the protest was not only about the abducted school pupils, also about wider concerns affecting Nigerians, including rising poverty and alleged injustice by security agencies.
He noted that the continued kidnapping of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states reflects a deepening security crisis that must be urgently addressed.
“Those kids are suffering. No medical attention, no food for them,” he said.
Falana added that Nigerians were, in a broader sense, also “in custody” due to worsening national conditions.
He demanded immediate action from the authorities to secure the release of the victims and their teachers.
Falana also said that one of the abducted teachers had been killed, describing the act as a violent attempt to pressure the government into hastening rescue efforts.
“As you are well aware, a teacher has been beheaded in order to convince the government to move speedily to have those children released,” he said.
The protest was part of a nationwide mobilisation by a coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions, youth groups, faith-based organisations and other social movements, which had declared June 12 a day of mass action over insecurity and worsening economic hardship.
The coalition, which includes Mr Falana, activist Hassan Taiwo, labour leaders and other civic actors, said the demonstration was meant to press the government to urgently confront insecurity, rising poverty and what it described as policies worsening hardship across the country.
The human rights activist condemned what he described as injustice against Nigerians, including arbitrary arrests along highways, and criticised the level of poverty in the country despite its abundant resources.
Falana noted that Nigeria’s democratic journey remained incomplete, arguing that what exists is not full democracy but civilian rule.
“We also want to thank you for coming out today to mark the June 12 anniversary.
“There is no democracy in Nigeria. What we have is civil rule. The struggle for democracy must continue,” he said.
Falana thanked protesters and journalists for participating in and covering the demonstration, urging sustained civic engagement on issues of governance and accountability.
The situation at the venue had earlier become tense as a separate group identifying as “Team Nigeria” staged a counter-rally in support of President Bola Tinubu at the same location.
Both groups mounted loudspeakers and music systems, each attempting to assert presence in the space, leading to a brief standoff before security operatives moved in.
Police officers were deployed to restore order and prevent further escalation, while both groups were kept apart to avoid confrontation.
The protest formed part of activities marking June 12 Democracy Day, which has increasingly become a platform for civic groups and activists to raise concerns over insecurity and economic hardship across the country.
