NUT demands safe rescue of abducted teachers and students as government faces pressure to strengthen security measures

Public school teachers in Oyo State have refused to return to classrooms, insisting that adequate security must be provided before schools can reopen. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) declared its position on Monday, weeks after a series of attacks and abductions left more than 40 pupils and teachers missing in Oriire Local Government Area.

The crisis began after armed men stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School in Esiele on 15 May 2026, kidnapping several learners and educators. According to the NUT, two teachers lost their lives during the attacks, while many victims remain in captivity as at the time of reporting. The union’s indefinite strike has left classrooms deserted across Oyo South-West, with parents expressing deep anxiety about their children’s safety.

NUT Oyo Secretary, Comrade Olukayode Salami, told journalists that the union’s decision was driven by mounting concern for the well-being of both staff and pupils. “As much as we have casualties among learners in terms of abduction, we have higher casualties among teachers because two of them were killed. The continuous detention of victims in captivity is another factor of concern to all of us,” Salami stated during a press briefing. He added that most teachers remain traumatised by the incident while parents are reluctant to send their wards back to school.

The union has called for urgent government action, including intensified patrols around school premises and joint operations between security agencies to deter further attacks. “The condition we attached was for the government to intensify efforts and ensure the safe rescue of these people. Secondly, the government must put measures in place that can guard against such occurrences,” Salami said. He noted that NUT had met with state officials and other stakeholders recently, submitting recommendations for immediate implementation.

While Governor Seyi Makinde (PDP) has vowed that schools in Oyo will not become targets like Chibok in Borno State, many parents and teachers remain unconvinced until all abducted victims are rescued and visible security improvements are made. The union insists that learning cannot resume until concrete steps are taken by authorities to protect education workers and pupils from further harm.

Source: https://www.pulse.ng/story/teachers-refuse-to-return-to-class-nut-rejects-oyo-school-resumption-order-2026062409512531796