Oyo schools shut as teachers strike over kidnapped colleagues, pupils

Public schools in Oyo State, Nigeria, closed on June 1 as teachers launched an indefinite strike to demand the release of kidnapped colleagues and pupils. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) ordered all primary and secondary school educators to withdraw services after over two weeks without updates on the abduction of 15 teachers and pupils from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. The strike disrupted the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), leaving students and supervisors uncertain about exam schedules. Classrooms at schools like Community High School, Ogungbade, remained locked, with teachers staying away as directed by NUT Secretary Olukayode Salami. The union cited growing insecurity, with teachers and parents reporting fears of further abductions. The abductions occurred at Community Grammar School, L.A. Primary School, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, all in Oriire. NUT warned that normal teaching could not continue while educators faced threats, calling on the government and security agencies to intensify rescue efforts. As of June 1, no official updates on the victims’ whereabouts had been released, and schools remained deserted under the strike. Stakeholders expressed concern over prolonged disruptions, which could impact learning outcomes and academic calendars. The strike highlights broader security challenges in rural Nigerian schools, where kidnappings have increasingly disrupted education.