Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State remained closed on Monday as teachers complied with a directive from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to begin 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 coincided with demonstrations in Oyo and Ogun states, where residents, labour activists and civil society organisations took to the streets to demand the immediate release of the victims and urge governments at all levels to strengthen efforts to address growing insecurity.
The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men invaded three schools—Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School—in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, kidnapping pupils and teachers.
Since then, the incident has triggered widespread condemnation across the country.
Schools Shut Across Oyo
Findings showed that public schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas suspended academic activities following the NUT directive.
Students who had prepared for school in communities including Moniya, Ojoo and Otun Agba-Agbakin in Akinyele Local Government Area; Agbowo, Bodija and Sango in Ibadan North; Beere, Oja’ba and Molete in Ibadan South-East; Orita Challenge and New Garage in Ibadan South-West; and Odo-Ona and Alao-Akala Way in Oluyole Local Government Area were instructed to remain at home after learning of the strike on Monday morning.
Compliance was also reported across Ogbomoso and the Ibarapa axis.
In Ogbomoso, demonstrators marched through the streets demanding the immediate rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers.
One emotional protester, a woman dressed in a pink hijab whose children were among those kidnapped, broke down in tears while appealing for government intervention.
“Please, have mercy on me. The children have a bright future. Government, please help us and intervene in this matter. I have cried and cried.
“Where will I start from? The children are my tomorrow. They are my hope. Please, help me. May you also not weep over your children,” she said.
Another protester, Ajibola Aboderin, said the demonstration was intended to peacefully draw attention to the plight of the victims.
“We are here to express our grievances, but in a peaceful manner. We feel the pain of the abducted teachers, students and their families, almost 18 days after the incident.
“Even those of us in our homes are feeling the discomfort, not to talk of pupils in the forest enduring such harsh conditions — the rain, the sun and the dew. It is truly pathetic.
“We are protesting to draw the attention of the Federal and State Governments, as well as security agencies, to urgently secure their release.
“We are not happy at all. How can anyone be so heartless as to kidnap a two-year-old boy or girl? This country is deteriorating into something unrecognisable.”
Teachers who participated in the protest said the action was intended to spotlight the suffering of their abducted colleagues and students.
One teacher, who requested anonymity, explained, “I was already in my base – Ibarapa yesterday (Sunday) after Sallah break when one of my bosses called me on the telephone that there would be a strike on Monday. I came back home to Ibadan today (Monday) to observe it.”
Another teacher added, “The protest is in solidarity with the kidnapped teachers and students of Ahoro-Esienle community. We cannot imagine the pains and agonies of the kidnapped students and their teachers in the past 18 days. Our appeal is for both the Federal and State Governments to expedite action on their release.”
Parents Voice Concern
Parents also expressed anxiety over the prolonged detention of the victims.
Kunle Aofolaju said he only became aware of the strike after listening to a radio programme on Monday morning.
“I was not aware until this morning (Monday) when I heard the strike on a radio station’s news review,” he said.
Another parent, Kazeem Abdulmumini, recounted how his children had already dressed for school before he learned of the development.
“My children had already put on their uniforms when my neighbours called my attention to the strike. So, I asked them immediately to undress and stay at home,” he said.
Civil Society Groups Join Demonstrations
In Ibadan, members of the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations organised a peaceful protest, carrying placards bearing messages 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 Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other agencies were deployed to strategic locations during the demonstration.
One protester, identified simply as Kunle, said citizens were increasingly frustrated by the country’s security challenges.
“Let them know that Nigerians are not at peace. Let them know that the people of Oyo are not smiling. Let them know that the Nigerian people are fed up with insecurity,” he said.
Ogun Residents Demand Action
Similar protests took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where residents condemned the abduction and the worsening state of insecurity nationwide.
Demonstrators carried placards with messages including ‘Bring Back Our School Children,’ ‘Stop Kidnapping, Banditry,’ and ‘End Terrorism in Nigeria.’
Speaking for the protesters, Juwon Owolabi said many residents now lived in constant fear and urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.
“This is a time when the parents and everyone are grieving. We cannot continue like this. We sleep with anxiety and panic, and we trust that the government has the capacity and what it takes to end this insecurity now.
“We know that if it doesn’t end now, no one would be safe in the end. We stand with the parents, the families of those who are in the den of this terrorist and we call on the government to intensify efforts to ensure the freedom of all who are under the captivity of these terrorists,” he said.
Owolabi warned that insecurity had reached a critical point.
“We are at a tipping point. We are at a point where if we don’t do anything about this insecurity, all of us will be victims of it. It doesn’t matter who you are, whether you are a civil servant or whether you are rich or poor, you are not safe.
“Nobody is safe. It’s time we all come out. There is power in our numbers. The government must know we are united. Don’t wait until the 2027 election. You don’t even have a choice. The choices are made for you already, so this is the time for us to speak out peacefully. We are imploring the government to deploy all necessary instruments to ensure that these children are released and the security of our communities is guaranteed.”
Residents also spoke about the impact of insecurity on daily life and economic activities.
An entrepreneur identified simply as Ada said, “For the past week, I have not been able to travel. I have orders coming in, but I can’t work. The least the government can do for us as citizens is to provide security.”
A nursing mother, Precious Jonathan, appealed for greater commitment to protecting citizens and schoolchildren.
“My baby is one year and a month old. I’m out because of my child and my unborn children. I want a better Nigeria for all of us. The government should please remember us and give us a better Nigeria.
“The other day, it was rainy heavily, and I stood to close the windows and wrap my baby up. And I immediately remembered the children in the bush. I felt so sad and unhappy. We beg the government to please be more committed to fighting the ravaging insecurity. We want all these school children and their teachers to reunite with their families.”
Nationwide NUT Rallies Begin
Teachers across Nigeria are expected to gather at state government secretariats today (Tuesday) for coordinated solidarity rallies demanding the unconditional release of abducted teachers and learners in Oyo State and other parts of the country.
The demonstrations, scheduled to take place simultaneously in all 36 state capitals, are being organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in response to the increasing wave of kidnappings targeting schools and education workers.
The rallies follow a directive issued by the union’s national leadership in a circular dated May 29, 2026, and signed by NUT President Audu Amba and Secretary Clinton Ikpitibo.
The circular instructed all state chapters to organise solidarity demonstrations to highlight worsening insecurity within the education sector.
In Lagos, teachers are expected to assemble at Ikeja Bus Stop before marching to Alausa Secretariat, while their counterparts in Oyo State will converge at the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Ibadan.
Preparations intensified on Monday as placards, banners and flyers arrived at NUT offices nationwide. Messages displayed on the materials included “Stop the Kidnapping of Teachers and Students Now,” “Schools Must Be Safe Havens, Not Crime Scenes,” and “Protect Teachers, Protect the Future.”
Arrangements were also completed for vehicles, public address systems and security support to ensure smooth conduct of the rallies.
Why Schools Will Remain Open Nationwide
Lagos State NUT Chairman Akintoye Hassan said the union deliberately rejected calls for a nationwide school shutdown despite security concerns.
“There will be a solidarity rally tomorrow (today) across the federation, but schools will remain open in most states,” Hassan said.
According to him, closing schools nationwide would effectively hand victory to those seeking to undermine education.
“We decided not to shut down our schools entirely because that has been the objective of Boko Haram from the beginning – to discourage education and deny children access to learning,” he stated.
Hassan warned that prolonged closures would disproportionately affect children from low-income households.
“If public schools are shut down while private schools remained open, the children of ordinary Nigerians will suffer the most. The gap we have been trying to close through advocacy for quality public education will only widen,” he said.
He urged governments at all levels to prioritise security over political interests.
“We must call on government to rise to the occasion and place the security of citizens above every other interest,” he said.
Highlighting the role of teachers during difficult times, Hassan added, “We are not only teaching knowledge; we are teaching values, values such as resilience and endurance. We must not be found wanting in moments like this.”
He also expressed concern over the spread of insecurity across different regions of the country.
“It started in the North-East, spread to the North-West and North-Central, and now it has reached the South-West, which many regard as one of the safest regions in the country,” he said.
Warning against allowing older cases to fade from public attention, Hassan noted, “A few months ago, people were talking about Kwara, today, nobody is talking about Kwara. The same day the Oyo incident happened, there were similar cases elsewhere, but because those incidents have become routine, they no longer make headlines.”
“We have to address this issue holistically. We must not forget victims whose cases have been pushed into the background simply because another incident has occurred,” he added.
Civil Society Group Questions Federal Response
Meanwhile, the North East Civil Society Network accused the Federal Government of adopting a double standard in its handling of school abductions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the group’s chairman, Ahmed Shehu, questioned what he described as the disparity between government intervention in Oyo State and its response to the kidnapping of 42 pupils in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“We are angry. And we have questions. Does that mean some Nigerian children are more precious than others? Does that mean children from the North East are less Nigerian than those from the South?” he asked.
The group called for equal security intervention across all regions of the country.
Ogbomoso Group Condemns Abduction
The Ogbomoso Pivotal Club Lagos also condemned the kidnapping, describing it as a painful reflection of worsening insecurity in rural communities.
In a statement signed by President Joel Owoade and General Secretary Gbite Adegoke, the organisation called for the immediate release of the abducted pupils and teachers.
“We condemn this dastardly act against hapless captives in the strongest terms,” the group stated, while urging security agencies to intensify rescue operations.
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 decision as a positive step toward strengthening internal security.
The group, however, urged the Federal Government to implement the initiative swiftly and extend the programme nationwide.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Isaac Abrak, the organisation warned that delays in operationalising security measures could weaken their impact and leave communities vulnerable to further attacks.
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