The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has criticised some social media content creators for allegedly exploiting tragic incidents for personal gain, urging Nigerians to channel their energies toward addressing insecurity rather than profiting from the suffering of victims.
Obasa made the remarks on Tuesday while receiving members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, who staged a protest at the Assembly complex in Ikeja over the abduction of pupils, students and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The demonstration was part of a nationwide protest directed by the national leadership of the NUT to draw attention to the growing incidence of kidnappings and attacks on schools, students and education workers across the country.
Addressing the protesters, Obasa said the safety of schoolchildren and teachers should remain a national priority and not be reduced to content for social media engagement or financial benefit.
“You cannot make a profit out of some people’s misfortune. What we should be doing is looking for lasting solutions and rescuing the teachers and pupils. Everybody can contribute; it is not about the government alone,” he said.
The Speaker emphasised the need for collective action in tackling insecurity, noting that citizens have a responsibility to support security efforts by providing useful information and working with authorities to safeguard lives and property.
Reaffirming his support for the establishment of state police, Obasa described it as one of the most practical long-term solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
“We are all concerned about the situation, particularly the one that happened in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Here at the Lagos State House of Assembly, we have been doing our best to ensure security. That is why this House has, several times, been at the forefront of advocating for state police,” he said.
According to him, recent comments by President Bola Tinubu on state policing further underscore the urgency and importance of decentralising security architecture in the country.
“It is not about protesting alone; we all need to come together to find lasting solutions,” he added.
Obasa assured parents, teachers and other stakeholders that governments at all levels were committed to securing the release of the abducted victims.
“I want to assure you that the President and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, are concerned about this matter. This is not about the Federal Government alone; state and local governments also have a responsibility to ensure the security of their people,” he said.
The Speaker also highlighted Lagos State’s efforts to strengthen grassroots security through legislation, citing the establishment of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, which he noted inspired the creation of the Amotekun security network across the South-West region.
Earlier, Lagos State NUT Chairman, Akintoye Hassan, said the protest was motivated not only by the recent abduction in Oyo State but also by years of persistent attacks on schools, students and teachers nationwide.
He noted that the education sector has continued to suffer the consequences of insecurity since the Chibok and Dapchi school abductions, stressing that teachers remain committed to promoting values such as resilience, tolerance and endurance despite the challenges.
Hassan urged Nigerians to view insecurity as a collective problem requiring the involvement of all stakeholders rather than placing the burden solely on government.
“This banditry has no respect for status, religion or ethnicity. It is affecting every sector of society. Let us stop trading blame,” he said.
He argued that members of the public must also take responsibility for combating insecurity, noting that some individuals have been arrested for allegedly serving as informants to criminal groups.
The union leader further questioned the level of security provided in public schools and other public institutions, observing that government facilities and residences of top officials often enjoy stronger protection than places frequently used by ordinary citizens.
“Places like the House of Assembly, National Assembly, Aso Rock and Government Houses are well secured. It is obvious that our society is not protected enough, especially when it affects the common people,” he said.
Hassan disclosed that the NUT’s national leadership would review reports from the nationwide protests before determining its next line of action regarding the safety of schools and efforts to secure the release of the abducted victims.
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