Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were shut down on Monday as teachers complied with a directive from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to protest the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area.
The industrial action coincided with widespread demonstrations in Oyo and Ogun states, where residents, civil society organisations, labour activists, and community leaders demanded the immediate release of the abducted victims and called for stronger measures to address the growing insecurity across the country.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esienle and Yawota communities. Nearly three weeks after the incident, the victims remain in captivity, fueling nationwide outrage.
Academic activities were suspended in public schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas, with students who had prepared for school sent back home following news of the strike. Compliance was reported in major cities and communities, including Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Moniya, Ojoo, Bodija, Sango, Molete, and Orita Challenge.
In Ogbomoso, emotional scenes unfolded as residents marched through the streets demanding the safe return of the abducted children and teachers. One grieving mother, whose children were among those kidnapped, broke down in tears while appealing to authorities for urgent intervention.
“Please help us. These children are our future and our hope. We have cried enough. We want them back alive,” she pleaded.
Protesters condemned the prolonged captivity of the victims and urged both federal and state governments, alongside security agencies, to intensify rescue efforts.
Teachers participating in the protest said the action was a show of solidarity with their abducted colleagues and students, describing the situation as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
Parents also expressed frustration over the ongoing ordeal. Many said they only became aware of the strike on Monday morning after their children had already prepared for school.
In Ibadan, members of the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society groups staged a peaceful protest, carrying placards with messages such as “Security For All, Not For A Few,” “Government Must End Kidnapping in Oyo State,” and “Protect Farmers, Traders and Students.”
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed across strategic locations to maintain order during the demonstrations.
Similar protests were held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where residents condemned rising insecurity and called for the immediate rescue of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers. Protesters warned that the country was approaching a dangerous security crisis that threatened the safety of all citizens regardless of social status.
Business owners and residents lamented the impact of insecurity on daily life, noting that fear of kidnapping had disrupted travel, commerce, and normal social activities.
Meanwhile, teachers across Nigeria are expected to converge on state government secretariats today as the NUT begins nationwide solidarity rallies in all 36 states. The demonstrations are aimed at drawing national attention to increasing attacks on schools, teachers, and learners.
The rallies follow a directive issued by the national leadership of the NUT, which called on state chapters to mobilise members in support of abducted teachers and students.
NUT leaders clarified that schools outside Oyo State would remain open during the protests, explaining that a nationwide closure could unintentionally serve the objectives of criminal groups seeking to disrupt education.
The union urged governments at all levels to prioritise the safety of schools and citizens, stressing that protecting education must remain a national priority.
As pressure mounts on authorities, civil society groups, community organisations, and concerned citizens continue to demand swift action to secure the release of all abducted pupils and teachers and to end the growing threat of insecurity across the country.
