The Nigeria Union of Teachers has ordered all public primary and secondary school educators in Oyo State to embark on an open-ended strike starting Monday, June 1, 2026. This industrial action is a direct protest against the ongoing captivity of educators and students kidnapped in the Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
This move comes in response to the May 15 assault on several institutions, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, alongside Community Grammar School and L.A Primary School in Esiele. During the raid, armed men captured 39 students and seven educators, including Mrs. Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esiele, while two other teachers lost their lives.
The NUT National President, Audu Amba, validated the strike during a Sunday interview, noting that public school educators across the state received orders to boycott work starting Monday. Amba told reporters that teachers throughout Oyo State have been instructed to remain in their homes.
The directive was officially communicated through a national circular issued on May 29, 2026, which bore the joint signatures of Amba and the NUT Secretary-General, Clinton Ikpitibo.
According to this document, the suspension of teaching services will persist until every kidnapped student and teacher is safely reunited with their families. Furthermore, the union revealed arrangements for nationwide solidarity demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, across various state capitals, which are set to finish at government houses where union leaders will engage the press and demand immediate administrative action.
Characterizing the ordeal of the captives as terrifying, brutal, and deeply traumatic, the union expressed deep regret that prior pleas sent to law enforcement and governmental bodies had failed to yield their safe return.
The labor union referenced an earlier press release under the heading “Stop the Attacks on Schools, Teachers and Learners Now – Not Until We Perish,” where it had previously cautioned authorities that its members would stop working if the government could not safeguard classrooms.
It pressed the Federal Government, the Oyo State administration, and other critical partners to deploy all legal mechanisms to expedite the release of the victims. In the meantime, the Oyo State branch of the NUT has validated that its members are complying fully with the national stay-at-home order.
Through a local circular published on May 31, 2026, and endorsed by State Secretary Salami Olukayode, the state chapter formally alerted educators across the region regarding the indefinite pause in academic activities.
The state branch observed that the continuous detention of their colleagues and pupils has bred immense panic and unease within academic circles, severely damaging public trust regarding school security.
It counselled its members to maintain orderliness and remain indoors while leadership continues to negotiate with relevant government representatives.
The association also restated its solidarity with the affected individuals and their relatives, demanding rapid and definitive measures to combat school-targeted insecurity.
On the other hand, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools has openly distanced itself from the upcoming protest demonstrations.
In an official statement endorsed by its president, Fajobi Olukunle, the private school group clarified that it would not partake in the rallies and instructed its member institutions across Oyo State to abstain from the protests.
While acknowledging the valid anxieties surrounding the security challenges plaguing educational spaces and local communities, NAPPS argued that these difficulties are best solved via dialogue, constructive mediation, and institutional partnerships rather than public marches.
The group further contended that the upcoming rallies seem motivated by political agendas rather than genuine humanitarian empathy, noting that key educational leaders were not formally brought into the planning process.
NAPPS closed by emphasizing its unwavering focus on the protection and well-being of students, educators, and school owners, promising to sustain its advocacy for reinforced security through lawful and measured mechanisms.
