Trending 
Classrooms across Oyo State stood empty on Monday as public school teachers launched an indefinite strike to demand action following the abduction of their colleagues and pupils nearly three weeks ago.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, ordered its members to stay away from work starting June 1, in protest of the May 15 raid on three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area.
Armed gunmen had stormed Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in Ahoro-Esinele, along with Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, seizing students and staff while leaving two people dead.
A correspondent from the News Agency of Nigeria who monitored the strike in Ibadan found that teachers had largely obeyed the directive.
At Anglican Junior Secondary School, Orita-Mefa; St. Patrick Secondary School, Bashorun; St. Louis Grammar School, Mokola; Oba Akinbiyi Model School; and St. Brigid’s School, Mokola, students arriving as early as 7:45 am were told to turn back.
Days after a mass kidnapping at Oriire School in Oyo State, families remain desperate for answers as several children are still unaccounted for. Residents say the attackers arrived in military-style uniforms, using deception before abducting victims. @igbalaniyi reports.
Watch… https://t.co/LdhrO8w9Dp pic.twitter.com/lbnzo3SU4l
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) June 1, 2026
Only West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidates and invigilating teachers were allowed on school grounds.
“We are all complying in solidarity with the affected teachers, pupils and their families,” Mrs Yemisi Alao told NAN.
“We pray that the abducted victims will regain their freedom and return home safely.”
Tayo Olutayo said the union had properly notified both students and staff ahead of the action.
“Only WAEC candidates and teachers involved in the examination process are expected to be in school,” she explained.
Reports from Oyo, Ogbomoso, Iseyin, Saki, Eruwa and Igboora confirmed that public school teachers had joined the strike, leaving many communities without academic activities.
The abducted victims, including children as young as two and seven teachers, have now spent over two weeks in captivity. One teacher was killed during the attack, and another was later beheaded. Their principal has appeared in a video pleading for government negotiation rather than military force.
President Bola Tinubu has since approved 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State and deployed a specialised rescue team. A presidential delegation visited the affected communities on Sunday, and authorities are considering a request for a military base in the area.
