Teachers Begin Indefinite Strike in Oyo Over School Kidnappings

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has begun an indefinite strike in Oyo State after the mid-May kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers by armed gunmen. The abductees remain missing, prompting fear, school disruptions, and calls for stronger government action to secure their release.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has announced an open-ended strike action in Oyo State beginning Monday, in protest over the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers during a violent attack in mid-May. The union said the decision was taken in response to the continued captivity of victims and the worsening security situation affecting schools in the state.
The abduction occurred on May 15 when armed gunmen stormed three schools in Oyo State in what authorities described as a coordinated attack. Nigerian security officials have linked the attackers to Boko Haram insurgents, although investigations into the exact identities of the assailants are still ongoing.
The raiders reportedly targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota as well as two other schools in the nearby community of Esiele. The attacks happened simultaneously, triggering panic and confusion among students, teachers, and residents in the affected areas.
Different figures have been given regarding the number of victims. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 39 children and seven teachers were abducted, while the state government put the figure at 25 pupils and seven teachers. All accounts confirm that the victims included very young children aged between two and 16 years, alongside their teachers.
As of now, the abducted pupils and teachers remain missing, and security forces say search and rescue operations are still ongoing. The uncertainty surrounding their fate has deepened fear and anxiety among families and communities across the state.
The NUT stated that the strike was necessary due to what it described as the “continued detention” of its members and learners, and the absence of any clear or timely progress in securing their release. The union instructed all primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services indefinitely, effective from Monday.
According to the union, the prolonged captivity of the abductees has created widespread fear among educators, discouraged parents from sending their children to school, and caused growing tension across communities. It warned that schools have become increasingly unsafe and that teachers can no longer operate under such conditions without urgent government intervention.
The union further called on authorities at both state and federal levels to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of the abducted students and teachers. It also urged security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and deploy more effective strategies to prevent further attacks on educational institutions.
Kidnapping for ransom has long been a major security challenge in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. However, large-scale school abductions in Oyo State, located in the southwest and one of the country’s most populated states, are relatively rare. Security experts have suggested that sustained military pressure on armed groups in the north may be contributing to a shift in criminal activity toward southern areas.
In response to the growing insecurity, the Nigerian military, in collaboration with international partners including the United States, has intensified operations against terrorist groups operating in northern Nigeria. These efforts are aimed at disrupting insurgent networks and reducing cross-regional attacks.
President Bola Tinubu also addressed the situation on Sunday, announcing the deployment of 1,000 newly recruited forest rangers in Oyo State to strengthen local security and improve surveillance in vulnerable areas. He also said a high-level federal delegation, including senior ministers and the Inspector General of Police, would be sent to the state to coordinate emergency responses and support ongoing rescue operations.
Despite these measures, anxiety remains high in Oyo communities as families continue to wait for updates on the missing children and teachers, while schools remain disrupted by the strike action.