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The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike in Oyo state, demanding urgent rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire LGA by suspected bandits on May 15.
In a circular dated May 29, 2026, and signed by Audu Amba, NUT president, and Clinton Ikpitibo, secretary general, the union also directed all its state wings to hold solidarity rallies across the country on Tuesday.
BACKGROUND
About 39 students and seven teachers were abducted by suspected bandits across three schools in the Oriire axis of Ogbomoso on May 15.
The assailants killed an assistant headmaster and a motorcyclist in one of the affected schools.
The following Monday, the gunmen beheaded Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, sparking outrage across the country.
In two separate videos posted on Instagram on Friday, Rachael Alamu, the principal of Community High School, Esinehe, who was also abducted, said the kidnappers were on the verge of killing another victim, urging the government to urgently negotiate with them.
‘ALL TEACHERS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OYO SHOULD WITHDRAW THEIR SERVICES’
According to the memo, the union directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo state to withdraw their services from Monday.
“In view of the continued detention of our colleagues and learners in the den of their abductors, without any clear sign of their timeous rescue and safe releasee, the national leadership has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State are to withdraw services indefinitely from Monday, June 1, 2026, until the abducted colleagues and learners are safely released,” the statement reads.
“However, as a mark of solidarity, the National Leadership has also directed all State Wings of the Union to embark on solidarity rallies (protests) on Tuesday, 2nd June, 2026 to press home our demand for the unconditional release of the teachers and learners kidnapped in Oyo and other States of the Federation.
“The rallies are to terminate at Government Houses where the Leaderships of the State Wings are expected to address the press on the need for government at all levels to provide safe and secured school environments for our teachers and learners.
“The Union stands in solidarity with the victims and their families and remains committed to pursuing every lawful means to ensure their safe return.”
In a statement on Sunday signed by Salami Olukayode, secretary of the Oyo state wing of the NUT, the union confirmed full compliance with the directive.
The Oyo NUT said the continued detention of the victims has “created fear, anxiety, and disruption within the education sector, while also eroding public confidence in school safety.”
The union condoled with families of the victims, calling for urgent and decisive action to address insecurity in schools.
It urged members to remain law-abiding and stay safe at home while the union continues engagement with relevant authorities for the safe return of the abductees.
On Saturday, Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, visited families of the victims in the affected communities, while Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu and Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), also led a federal government delegation to Ogbomoso on Sunday.
President Tinubu has also directed the deployment of a “specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities” to secure the release of the victims.
