Oyo Abduction: Nigerian Teachers Shut Schools, Plan Nationwide Protests as Makinde Urges Calm
The crisis surrounding the abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State deepened on Monday as the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) ordered an indefinite strike and announced nationwide solidarity rallies over the continued captivity of victims kidnapped in Oriire Local Government Area.
The union directed teachers in public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State to withdraw their services indefinitely from June 1, citing growing frustration over the failure to secure the release of colleagues and students abducted during the May 15 attack.
In a statement issued by its national leadership, the NUT described the condition of the victims as traumatic and unbearable, lamenting what it called the prolonged suffering of teachers and learners still being held by kidnappers.
The statement, jointly signed by National President, Dr Clinton J. Ikpitibo, and Secretary-General, Audu Titus Amba, said the union had earlier appealed to authorities and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts but warned that industrial action would become inevitable if urgent action was not taken.
According to the union, fear and anxiety have continued to spread across the education sector, with teachers increasingly worried about safety in schools following the attack, which reportedly claimed lives and left several families devastated.
The NUT also disclosed plans for solidarity rallies across the country on Tuesday, directing its state chapters to mobilise members in demonstrations demanding the immediate and unconditional release of abducted teachers and students in Oyo and other parts of Nigeria facing similar insecurity challenges.
Union leaders are expected to converge at government houses in different states to press authorities for stronger security measures and safer learning environments.
The abduction, which occurred in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, triggered outrage after reports emerged that armed men stormed schools and kidnapped teachers and learners, sparking concerns over worsening insecurity around educational institutions.
Amid rising tension, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, appealed to families of victims and residents to avoid protests, warning that public demonstrations could complicate rescue operations and embolden kidnappers.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service in Ibadan on Sunday, the governor said security agencies were working around the clock to secure the victims’ freedom, stressing that bandits and kidnappers often thrive on publicity and public pressure.
Makinde urged residents to remain patient and prayerful, insisting that the government had not relented in efforts to ensure the abducted teachers and students return safely.
