The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) don direct all public primary and secondary school teachers for Oyo State to withdraw dem services from schools starting Monday, June 1, 2026, until further notice. According to the directive wey the national leadership of the union issue, the strike na protest against the continued captivity of abducted teachers and pupils, wey dem rescue and safe release, according to the Union, remain uncertain.
The NUT argue say the prolonged detention of the victims don create fear and anxiety among teachers, discourage parents from sending dem pikin to school, and heighten tension across communities for the state. The development follow President Bola Tinubu directive on Sunday for the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to secure the release of the abducted teachers and students.
However, for a release wey the NUT chairman for Oyo state wing, Comrade Hassan Fatai sign, the NUT say the industrial action na aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the urgent need to intensify efforts toward securing the safe release of the abductees without further delay. The union urge all teachers to comply fully with the directive, remain law-abiding, and stay safe for dem respective homes throughout the period of the strike.
The NUT also reaffirm im solidarity with the abducted teachers, pupils, and dem families, stressing say lawful engagements with relevant government authorities go continue until the victims regain dem freedom. The union conclude by assuring members say e remain committed to protecting the welfare and security of teachers and learners across the country.
Fear and uncertainty don continue to grip communities for Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State following the coordinated attack on three educational institutions for the rural communities of Ahoro-Esin-Ile, Yawota and Alawusa on May 15, as survivors and families of victims recount dem ordeal. Narrating her experience to a Nigerian filmmaker and On-air Personality, Chude Jideonwo, Aminat say wetin begin as normal school day quickly turn to chaos when gunshots ring out across the school premises.
We were writing an exam when we hear them shooting. That how we run into the bush. Even our teacher run away. We no see am since then, she say. The student recall say amid the confusion and stampede wey follow, pupils scatter for different directions for a desperate bid to save dem lives. According to her, e be only after the family conduct frantic searches that dem realise her elder brother be among those wey missing. Since then I no see my elder brother. After searching everywhere and e no dey anywhere, that how we know say e dey missing, she say.
Residents say the attack occur simultaneously across the affected communities, catching many families and school authorities off guard. At the Baptist school for Esin-Ile, where some of the victims dem take, pupils boxes and school bags remain scatter across classrooms long after the attackers don flee. The incident don now leave parents devastated and fearful for the safety of dem pikin. One of the affected parents, identified simply as Mama Muheez, wey be the mother of Aminat, say her eight-year-old son, Abdulraman, be among those dem abduct.
When dem finish eat, dem go school. The government tell us say dem don dey look for dem. E don hard. I no fit eat, I no fit sleep, she say. She add say the remaining children for her family too frighten to return to school. For now dem no fit go back to school because we dey fear. The government suppose help us. As security agencies and local volunteers mobilise to rescue the abducted victims, tragedy strike again. One of the residents, Adigun Michael, disclose say im brother, Shuaibu Adigun, dem kill during efforts to locate the kidnapped children after rescuers encounter explosives dem plant along access routes by the attackers.
My brother be among those wey go search for the kidnapped children, but dem lay mines along the road. E be the bomb wey my brother match and die, e say. Michael say im late brother work at the national park and leave behind wife and children. Residents believe the attackers escape through routes wey link to the old Oyo National Park after dem carry out the operation. The Mogaji of the community, Yekini Abioye, describe the incident as unprecedented for the history of the community. This never happen for this town. We dey shattered as a community, e say.
According to am, the attack don leave residents traumatised and fearful, with many parents refusing to allow dem children return to school. Dem first kill a vigilante person. We need the army around here. The children no fit return to school for now, Abioye add. The bandits also reportedly kill a man on a bike wey refuse to let go of am. For Sarah Aina, the attack don bring fresh anguish to a family wey already dey cope with loss. She say one of her twin children dem take away while e dey sit for examination.
My pikin dem be twins. Dem dey write exam when the bandits come and ask dem stand up. That how dem pick one of the twins, she say. Aina, wey dey raise the children after the death of dem parents, appeal to government authorities to intensify efforts to secure the victims release. We ask the government to help us. Also, the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, lead a high-level delegation to Ogbomoso on Saturday to commiserate with the families of the abducted pupils and teachers of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) Primary School on May 15, 2026.
The delegation convey President Bola Tinubu deep concern over the incident and im commitment to securing the safe return of the victims. In addition, Tinubu don direct a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to secure the release of the abducted pupils and teachers. According to am, Mr. President dey deeply troubled by this incident. Whatever e take, our children and teachers go bring back home safely. E don issue all necessary directives and dey provide every support wey our security agencies require to achieve that objective.
Your pain and anxiety dem understand. By the grace of God, your children go return safely to your arms. Mr. President also see the appeals from some parents and community members wey dey urge caution for the rescue efforts. Let me assure you say the operation go be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims. The delegation also visit the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso land, HRM Kabiyesi Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to commiserate with am and im people. The delegation further meet with the wife of the deceased school Teacher, Mrs. [name not provided].
Confirming the directive, NUT National President, Audu Amba, say: We don direct all Teachers for Oyo state to remain at home starting from tomorrow (Monday). The directive dem convey for a national circular dated May 29, 2026, and sign by Amba and the union Secretary-General, Clinton Ikpitibo. The circular further direct say public school teachers for the state should withdraw services indefinitely until the abducted colleagues and learners dem safely release. As part of im response, the union also announce nationwide solidarity rallies wey dem schedule for June 2, 2026, across all state capitals.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) don arrest five persons, including two Nigeriens, wey dem suspect to be arms couriers to gunmen wey, on November 21, 2025, attack St. [name not provided]. According to credible security sources, one Yusuf Mohammed aka Bature, wey dey on the list of wanted members of Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad aka Boko Haram terror organisation and im accomplice, Mubarak Ibrahim, dem arrest on the Zaria Kaduna highway while dem dey go collect a consignment of arms for dem commanders. A follow-up operation lead to the arrest of Goni Ibrahim, an international arms courier from Diffa Region, Niger Republic.
