Published by the Editor

Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were shut on Monday as teachers complied with a directive by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to commence a nationwide protest over the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area.

The action brought academic activities to a standstill across the state’s 33 local government areas, as educators joined a growing wave of public outrage over the abduction, which occurred on May 15, 2026.
According to a report by Punch Newspaper, armed men invaded three schools — Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School — in the Esienle and Yawota communities, carting away pupils and teachers whose whereabouts remain unknown more than two weeks after the incident.

The NUT protest coincided with demonstrations held in Oyo and neighbouring Ogun State, where residents, labour activists and civil society groups demanded the immediate release of the victims and called on governments at all levels to intensify efforts to combat the worsening security situation.

Checks across various parts of Oyo State indicated widespread compliance with the union’s directive. In Ibadan, students who had prepared for school in areas including Moniya, Ojoo, Agbowo, Bodija, Sango, Beere, Oja’ba, Molete, Challenge and Odo-Ona were forced to remain at home after learning of the industrial action.

Reports also indicated total compliance in Ogbomoso and the Ibarapa axis.
In Ogbomoso, protesters marched through major streets, demanding urgent action from security agencies and government authorities to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers.

One emotional moment during the protest involved a woman whose children were reportedly among those kidnapped. Overcome with grief, she appealed to authorities to rescue the victims, describing them as her hope and future.

The demonstration also featured calls from concerned citizens who expressed frustration that the victims had remained in captivity for over two weeks without resolution.
Speaking during the protest, some participants lamented the plight of the abductees, noting that the children and their teachers were likely enduring severe hardship in captivity, exposed to harsh weather conditions and uncertainty.
Teachers who participated in the strike described the action as a gesture of solidarity with their abducted colleagues and students. They urged both the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to expedite efforts aimed at securing the victims’ freedom.

Parents also expressed concern over the disruption of academic activities and the prolonged captivity of the abductees. Some said they only became aware of the strike on Monday morning after hearing announcements on radio programmes or receiving information from neighbours.

Meanwhile, members of the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations staged a peaceful protest in Ibadan, carrying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Security For All, Not For A Few,” “Government Must End Kidnapping In Oyo State,” and “Protect Farmers, Traders And Students.”

Security personnel, including operatives of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, were deployed to strategic locations across the city to monitor the demonstrations and maintain public order.

The protesters argued that insecurity had become an existential challenge threatening lives, livelihoods and access to education, urging authorities to take decisive action before public confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens deteriorates further.
The continued captivity of the Oriire schoolchildren and their teachers has become one of the most disturbing security incidents in Oyo State in recent times, sparking widespread concern among parents, educators and the broader public.

Source: Adapted from a report by Punch Newspaper.