School Kidnappings Trigger Protests in Oyo and Ogun as Teachers Launch Nationwide Action

Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State remained closed on Monday as teachers joined a nationwide protest organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) over the continued captivity of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

The action came as residents, labour activists and civil society groups staged demonstrations in both Oyo and Ogun states, calling for the immediate release of the victims and stronger measures to address the growing insecurity affecting communities across the country.

The crisis began on May 15, 2026, when gunmen invaded three schools in the Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA. The attackers stormed Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, making away with several pupils and teachers.

Nearly three weeks after the incident, concern continues to grow as the victims remain in captivity.

Across Oyo State, public schools suspended academic activities in compliance with the NUT directive. From Ibadan to Ogbomoso and the Ibarapa region, classrooms remained empty while students who had prepared for school were told to stay home after learning about the industrial action.

In Ogbomoso, residents took to the streets to demand urgent intervention from the authorities. The atmosphere turned emotional when a woman dressed in a pink hijab broke down in tears while appealing for help. According to her, some of her children were among those kidnapped.

She pleaded with the government to intervene, saying the children represented her future and hopes. Struggling to hold back tears, she said she had spent days crying and praying for their safe return.

Another demonstrator, Ajibola Aboderin, described the situation as heartbreaking. He noted that if people at home were already distressed, the suffering of children and teachers trapped in the forest under harsh weather conditions would be unimaginable.

He said the protest was intended to draw the attention of both the Federal and State Governments, as well as security agencies, to the urgent need for rescue efforts.

Teachers who participated in the protest said the action was necessary to highlight the plight of their colleagues and students. One teacher explained that he had already returned to his hometown after the Sallah break before receiving a call informing him of the strike.

Another teacher said it was difficult to imagine what the abducted victims had endured over the past several days and urged authorities to accelerate efforts aimed at securing their freedom.

Parents also expressed frustration over the situation. Some said they only became aware of the strike on Monday morning after hearing announcements on radio stations or receiving information from neighbours. Several children had already dressed for school before being told to remain at home.

In Ibadan, members of the Take-It-Back Movement and other civil society organisations organised a peaceful rally. Protesters carried placards demanding improved security and an end to kidnappings across Oyo State.

Security personnel from the police, civil defence and other agencies were deployed to strategic locations to monitor the demonstrations and maintain order.

One protester identified simply as Kunle said many Nigerians had become exhausted by the persistent insecurity affecting different parts of the country. He argued that citizens could no longer remain silent while communities continued to live under fear.

The protests were not limited to Oyo State. In Abeokuta, Ogun State residents also marched through the streets carrying placards calling for the release of the abducted schoolchildren and an end to kidnapping, banditry and terrorism.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Juwon Owolabi said insecurity had reached a level where many citizens now lived with constant anxiety. He urged the Federal Government to intensify rescue efforts and ensure that affected families were reunited with their loved ones.

According to him, the country had reached a critical moment where no one could genuinely claim to be safe, regardless of social status or profession. He stressed that insecurity had become a national problem requiring immediate and united action.

Business owners also shared their concerns. An entrepreneur identified as Ada said fear of travelling had disrupted her operations and affected her ability to meet customer demands. She argued that providing security was one of the government’s most important responsibilities.

A nursing mother, Precious Jonathan, said she joined the protest because she wanted a safer future for her child and generations yet unborn. She recalled feeling emotional during a recent rainstorm after thinking about the kidnapped children spending their days and nights in unknown conditions.

Meanwhile, teachers across Nigeria are expected to converge on state government secretariats today as part of a coordinated nationwide solidarity rally. The protests are being organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers to demand the unconditional release of abducted teachers and students, while drawing attention to the broader security challenges confronting schools.

The directive was contained in a circular issued by the union’s national leadership on May 29, 2026. State chapters were instructed to mobilise members for peaceful demonstrations in all 36 state capitals.

In Lagos, teachers are expected to gather at Ikeja Bus Stop before proceeding to the Alausa Secretariat, while their counterparts in Oyo State will assemble at the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Ibadan.

Speaking ahead of the rally, Lagos State NUT Chairman, Akintoye Hassan, explained that the union deliberately avoided ordering a nationwide closure of schools. He argued that shutting down schools completely would hand victory to those who seek to discourage education through violence and intimidation.

Hassan also warned that prolonged school closures would affect children from low-income families more severely, particularly when many private institutions continue operating despite security concerns.

He called on governments at all levels to treat the safety of schools and citizens as a top priority. According to him, insecurity has gradually spread from regions previously considered high-risk into parts of the country once regarded as relatively safe.

Elsewhere, the North East Civil Society Network criticised what it described as unequal responses to school abductions. The group questioned why recent kidnappings involving pupils in Borno State had not received the same level of national attention.

Its chairman, Ahmed Shehu, argued that every Nigerian child deserved equal concern and protection, regardless of location.

Also reacting to the incident, the Ogbomoso Pivotal Club Lagos condemned the abduction and urged security agencies to intensify rescue operations. The group described the prolonged captivity of the victims as deeply troubling and said anxiety continued to grow throughout Ogbomosoland.

In a related development, the Northern Christian Youth Professionals praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of the recruitment of 1,000 Forest Guards for Oyo State. While welcoming the move, the organisation urged authorities to implement the initiative quickly and consider extending the programme to other parts of the country.

The group maintained that delays in executing security measures could weaken their impact and leave more communities exposed to criminal attacks.