TDÂ Teachers in Oyo State have taken to the streets in protest following the kidnapping of a school principal, teachers, and students in Oriire Local Government Area.
The teachers abandoned the earlier call by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, for a three-day fasting and prayer session.
A video circulating online shows teachers chanting and marching, demanding decisive government action to secure the release of their colleagues and students.
Watch the video footage below:
Background
On 17 May 2026, the NUT Oyo State Wing issued a circular urging members to engage in collective prayers at 12:00 noon daily for three days.
The letter, signed by State Secretary Salami B. Olukayode, emphasized calmness, unity, and spiritual supplication as the chosen response to the crisis.
The appeal followed a deadly attack in Oriire LGA on 15 May 2026.
A teacher and a commuter were killed and several staff and students abducted from Yawota Basic School, Yawota Community High School, and Esinele Community High School.
Public Reaction
The union’s initial call for fasting and prayers drew sharp criticism nationwide.
Many Nigerians argued that symbolic gestures were insufficient in the face of escalating insecurity.
- Critics’ View: They accused NUT leadership of shielding government failures, insisting that strikes or mass protests were necessary to pressure authorities.
- Observers’ Note: While prayer and solidarity can provide moral support, analysts warned that the absence of concrete action risked emboldening criminal elements.
The Shift to Protest
The latest demonstrations mark a turning point. Teachers, frustrated by repeated attacks, are now demanding:
- Immediate rescue operations for kidnapped colleagues and students.
- Systemic reforms to secure schools against future attacks.
- Accountability from government officials who have failed to protect lives and property.
Broader Context
Kidnappings targeting schools have become alarmingly frequent across Nigeria, disrupting education and traumatizing communities.
Security experts argue that unions and civil society must go beyond symbolic gestures, sustaining pressure on government to deliver lasting solutions.
The Oyo teachers’ protests highlight growing impatience with both government and union leadership.
What began as a call for fasting and prayers has now evolved into a demand for concrete action.
It reflects the desperation of educators caught in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis.
