The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite strike beginning Monday, June 1, 2026, over the continued captivity of teachers and pupils abducted during a deadly attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.
The union also ordered nationwide solidarity rallies across all states of the federation on Tuesday, June 2, in a move aimed at drawing national attention to the worsening security situation facing schools and the prolonged detention of the victims.
The industrial action marks an escalation of pressure on both federal and state authorities as efforts to secure the release of the abducted teachers and learners continue.
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In separate statements issued by the Oyo State wing and the national leadership of the union, the NUT said the decision followed growing concerns over the safety of the victims and what it described as the psychological trauma inflicted on teachers, students and their families.
The National President of the NUT, Audu Titus Amba, and Secretary-General, Clinton Ikpitibo, said all state chapters of the union had been directed to organize peaceful solidarity rallies in their respective capitals.
According to the NUT, the rallies will terminate at Government Houses where union leaders are expected to address the media and submit demands for urgent action to improve school security.
The NUT said despite previous appeals and engagements with authorities, the teachers and pupils abducted during the May 15 attack in Oriire LGA remain in captivity.
The union recalled its earlier warning that industrial action could become inevitable if urgent measures were not taken to secure the victims’ freedom.
“The uncertainty surrounding the fate of the abducted teachers and learners has heightened fears about their safety and wellbeing,” the union stated.
It added that emotional appeals from some of the victims and school officials underscored the gravity of the situation and reinforced the need for immediate intervention.
In Oyo State, the union’s leadership, led by Chairman Hassan Fatai and Secretary Salami Olukayode, said the prolonged captivity of the victims had created fear and anxiety among teachers and disrupted confidence in the education system.
According to the state chapter, many parents are becoming increasingly reluctant to send their children to school due to security concerns.
The union noted that the strike is intended to compel authorities to intensify rescue efforts and guarantee the safety of teachers and learners.
Teachers across the state were directed to comply fully with the strike order, remain law-abiding and prioritize their personal safety while staying away from classrooms.
The attack that triggered the industrial action occurred in the Ahoro-Esinle and Yawota axis of Oriire Local Government Area, where armed men invaded schools and abducted pupils, students and teachers.
The incident shocked residents and reignited concerns about the vulnerability of educational institutions to criminal attacks.
Security agencies have since intensified operations in the area. The Defence Headquarters recently disclosed that troops had established contact with the abductors and were working toward securing the victims’ release.
Governor Seyi Makinde has repeatedly assured residents that efforts are ongoing to rescue those held captive, while the Inspector-General of Police deployed additional personnel to support rescue operations.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also called for a careful and timely operation to secure the release of the victims.
As schools prepare to shut down under the strike directive, attention is expected to focus on government response and whether security agencies can secure the release of the abducted teachers and pupils before the crisis further disrupts education in the state.
