Ademola Adegbite, Wale Akinselure, Bankole Taiwo, Isah Ojo, Dirisu Yakubu and Israel Bulus
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were shut on Monday as teachers joined a nationwide protest against the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The action followed a directive by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), which has also scheduled solidarity rallies across the country today (Tuesday) to demand the safe return of the victims and stronger measures to secure schools nationwide.
The abductees were taken on May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA.
Nearly three weeks after the incident, growing frustration over the slow pace of rescue efforts sparked protests in Oyo and neighbouring Ogun State, where residents, labour activists and civil society groups called on authorities to act decisively against insecurity.
Checks across Oyo State showed widespread compliance with the NUT directive, with public schools in all 33 local government areas remaining closed.
In Ibadan, many pupils who had prepared for classes were asked to return home after news of the strike filtered through early Monday morning. Similar compliance was recorded across Ogbomoso, Ibarapa and other parts of the state.
In Ogbomoso, protesters marched through major streets, demanding the immediate rescue of the kidnapped pupils and teachers.
Emotions ran high as a woman, whose children were among those abducted, broke down in tears while appealing to the government for help.
“Please have mercy on me. The children have a bright future. Government should help us. They are my tomorrow and my hope,” she cried.
Another protester, Ajibola Aboderin, said the demonstration was aimed at drawing national attention to the plight of the victims.
“We are deeply disturbed that these children and their teachers have remained in captivity for almost 18 days. We want the Federal and State Governments, as well as security agencies, to secure their release without delay,” he said.
Teachers who participated in the action described the protest as a show of solidarity with their abducted colleagues and students.
“We cannot imagine the suffering and trauma these children and teachers are enduring. Our appeal is for urgent intervention to bring them home safely,” one teacher said.
Parents also expressed concern over the prolonged captivity of the victims, with many saying they only became aware of the strike after hearing announcements on radio broadcasts and from neighbours.
In Ibadan, members of the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations staged a peaceful demonstration, carrying placards with 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 from the police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other agencies monitored the protests to ensure order.
One of the protesters, identified simply as Kunle, said Nigerians were increasingly losing confidence in the country’s security architecture.
“People are tired of living in fear. The government must understand that Nigerians are fed up with insecurity,” he said.
In neighbouring Ogun State, residents of Abeokuta also took to the streets, demanding the immediate release of the abducted schoolchildren and their teachers.
Carrying placards bearing messages such as “Bring Back Our School Children” and “End Terrorism in Nigeria,” the demonstrators urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and restore public confidence.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Juwon Owolabi said insecurity had become a national emergency affecting every citizen regardless of status.
“We are at a tipping point. Nobody is safe anymore. The government must deploy every available resource to secure the release of these children and guarantee the safety of communities across the country,” he said.
The demonstrations come as teachers across Nigeria prepare for coordinated rallies in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory today.
According to a circular issued by NUT National President Audu Amba and Secretary-General Clinton Ikpitibo, the rallies are intended to draw national attention to the increasing wave of kidnappings targeting schools, teachers and students.
In Lagos, teachers are expected to gather at Ikeja before marching to the State Secretariat in Alausa, while their counterparts in Oyo will converge at the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Ibadan.
Speaking ahead of the rallies, Lagos State NUT Chairman, Akintoye Hassan, clarified that schools outside Oyo State would remain open despite the protests.
He said shutting schools nationwide would amount to surrendering to criminals whose objective was to disrupt education.
“We will not allow those behind these attacks to achieve their aim of denying children access to education. Schools must remain open while we continue to demand improved security,” Hassan stated.
He warned that prolonged school closures would disproportionately affect children from low-income families and widen educational inequality.
Hassan also called on governments at all levels to place the protection of schools and citizens above political considerations.
“We must treat insecurity as a national emergency. It is no longer confined to one region. What started in the North-East has spread across the country and now threatens communities that were once considered safe,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North East Civil Society Network accused the Federal Government of applying double standards in responding to school abductions.
The group questioned why the abduction of pupils in Oyo appeared to receive more national attention than a similar incident involving 42 schoolchildren in Borno State.
Its chairman, Ahmed Shehu, called for equal protection and intervention for all Nigerian children regardless of their location.
Also reacting, the Ogbomoso Pivotal Club Lagos described the abduction as a painful reminder of worsening insecurity in rural communities and urged security agencies to intensify rescue efforts.
In a related development, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Guards for Oyo State, describing the move as a positive step toward strengthening security in vulnerable communities.
The group, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure the swift implementation of the initiative and extend similar measures to other states facing security threats.
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