The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State met with Governor Seyi Makinde in Ibadan on Tuesday to present its demands regarding the ongoing strike over the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area. The union stated that the meeting focused on the rescue of the victims and enhanced security in schools across the state.
The union will consult its national leadership before deciding the next step on the indefinite strike that began on June 1. The strike demands the urgent rescue of 39 students and seven teachers abducted by gunmen on May 15 from three schools in Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota in Oriire LGA.
Oyo NUT Secretary Salami Olukayode told Premium Times that the union briefed the governor on its concerns and will relay the outcome to the national body, which directed the withdrawal of services and a nationwide protest joined by the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society organizations.
“The governor received us today to engage us, but the next line of action now is for us to refer the matter back to the national body. It was the national body that directed the withdrawal of services and the nationwide protest in solidarity for the rescue of the victims,” Olukayode said.
The union’s major concern remains the safe rescue of the abducted victims and stronger security measures to prevent future attacks on schools and surrounding communities. The psychological and emotional impact of the incident has left many teachers, families, and communities traumatized. The union also called for the implementation of concrete school protection measures in the state.
“We are requesting them to synergize with all necessary authorities down to the local government level to secure the release of these victims. Because for them to continue to be in captivity, the agony in the land continues to mount,” Olukayode added.
Teachers and Parents Express Fears
While efforts to secure the release of the victims are ongoing, teachers remain concerned about the long-term security of schools across the state. Akande Rukayat, a teacher at Muslim Grammar School, Odinjo in Ibadan, stated that the abduction has heightened safety concerns among teachers and parents.
“The incident affected us because they are our colleagues, and those children are small children. Anybody with blood running in their body would sympathize with those teachers and pupils,” she said.
She added that although some schools have tightened security procedures following the incident, many teachers still fear fully returning to classrooms without visible security improvements. “In my school now, before anybody enters, we record the person’s name and purpose. We now monitor movements more carefully. But what about a stronger security presence across schools in the state? Because these people are armed with guns,” she said.
Christina John, a parent in Ogbomosho, said they support efforts to secure the release of the victims but remain worried about the prolonged disruption of school activities. The incident has discouraged parents from sending their children to school, especially in rural areas.
“We want our children back in school but we are worried about sending our children to school and spending every day worrying whether they will return home. We need help on security,” she said.
The abduction in Oriire LGA is the latest in a series of mass abductions in communities and schools in Nigeria over the past decade. Since the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, hundreds of students and teachers have been kidnapped in separate incidents across states including Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, Zamfara, Katsina, and Kebbi.
