CAI Rejects Planned Reopening of Oyo Schools
The Coalition Against Insecurity (CAI), Oyo State chapter, has rejected plans by the state government to reopen public schools following the abduction of teachers and students in Oriire Local Council. They insisted that the victims must be safely released before academic activities resume.
Meanwhile, the indefinite strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo has continued to generate concern among parents and education stakeholders over its impact on pupils. However, Senator Sharafadeen Alli (Oyo South) has called for decisive security measures to address the growing wave of kidnappings in Oyo, saying that the immediate rescue of abducted victims should take precedence over protests and political distractions.
The coalition, in a statement, described the proposed reopening as reckless and insensitive, arguing that it would create a false impression of normalcy while affected families continue to grapple with the uncertainty surrounding their loved ones' captivity. The statement was endorsed by the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Socialist Labour (SL), Campaign for Workers' Alternative (CWA), Amilcar Cabral Ideological School-Movement (ACIS-M), All Workers Convergence (AWC), Centre for Popular Education (CEPED), Cure My Nation Initiative (CNI), Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) and Joint Action Front (JAF).
The group urged the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration to prioritise the rescue and safe return of all abducted students and teachers rather than reopening schools amid unresolved security concerns. In the statement signed by Bamigboye Abiodun, on behalf of the Coalition Coordinating Committee, the groups maintained that no school should be reopened until government authorities could demonstrate that schools across the state were adequately protected and safe for both learners and education workers.
CAI consequently called for the immediate withdrawal of any plan to resume activities in affected schools, stressing that reopening should remain suspended until all abducted persons regain their freedom and comprehensive security measures are put in place. CAI also appealed to the national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to mobilise for a 48-hour nationwide warning strike to draw attention to the plight of abducted teachers and students and compel authorities to take decisive action against insecurity.
Some parents and teachers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan yesterday that the prolonged closure of public schools had left many children idle, exposed to negative influences and disrupted their academic activities. NUT had directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo to embark on an indefinite strike beginning from June 1. This was in reaction to the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire on May 15.
A teacher, Mrs Yemisi Alao, who lamented the nonchalant attitude of some parents towards the future of their children, said some parents left their wards and went to work or to their shops while the indefinite strike lasted. 'Ignorance has led many parents to neglect their children's future. They believe the government should do everything without them having to lift a finger. The children are not well monitored, and some of those placed under apprenticeship are also not serious about learning the trade,' she said.
According to her, the eventual resumption of schools may lead to rushed academic activities in an attempt to cover the curriculum. 'This is a collective call to action. People should be interested in mentoring children around them and engaging them meaningfully with books, sports and other productive activities, so that their minds will be occupied with positive ideas rather than fraudulent ones,' she added.
Also, a parent living in the Mokola area of Ibadan, Godwin Obinna, said the strike led to many children roaming the streets, while others engage in hawking products for their parents.
Senator Alli, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan, expressed sympathy to families of kidnap victims across the state and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the unconditional release of all abductees. He described the rising incidence of kidnapping and other violent crimes as disturbing, warning that the development was fuelling fear and anxiety among residents and undermining public confidence in the government's ability to protect lives and property.
According to him, the protection of citizens remains the government's primary responsibility, and he stressed that authorities must respond with urgency and determination to the worsening security situation. The lawmaker asserted that the immediate focus should be on implementing coordinated security strategies to dismantle criminal networks and prevent further attacks, rather than creating the impression of helplessness in the face of insecurity.
'The safety of lives and property is a fundamental obligation of government. At a time when many families are traumatised by the abduction of their loved ones, every effort should be directed towards strengthening security operations and ensuring the safe return of victims,' he said.
Alli urged the state government and relevant security agencies to prioritise intelligence gathering, surveillance, and rapid-response operations, while ensuring the prosecution of those responsible for criminal activities.
