By Abdulahmeed Abdulrozaq Bilal | Fact Frontier.
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The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to commence an indefinite strike beginning Monday, June 1, 2026, following the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of the state.
The industrial action comes amid growing concerns over the safety of teachers and students after armed kidnappers invaded three schools in the Esiele and Yawota communities near Ogbomoso and abducted dozens of victims.
According to reports, the attack occurred on May 15, 2026, when heavily armed assailants arrived at the schools on six motorcycles, with two riders on each motorcycle. The attackers reportedly targeted Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School, and L.A. Primary School.
During the operation, the gunmen abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers before taking them into the forest within the Old Oyo National Park. Among the abducted pupils was a two-year-old child identified as Christianah Akanbi.
The incident sparked widespread condemnation and heightened concerns over insecurity in schools across the state.
Tragedy further unfolded as one of the abducted teachers, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher, was reportedly killed by his captors. A security operative involved in rescue efforts also lost his life after encountering improvised explosive devices during operations in the area. In addition, a commercial motorcycle rider was reportedly killed during the initial attack.
The situation drew renewed public attention after a video showing some of the abducted victims surfaced online on May 30, 2026. In the footage, two female teachers appealed to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to facilitate negotiations that could secure their release.
The teachers described the difficult conditions they had endured in captivity, stating that they had been exposed to harsh weather conditions, including rain and intense sunlight, with limited access to essential necessities. One of the victims disclosed that they had spent 13 days in captivity without adequate shelter or care.
Reacting to the development, Governor Makinde assured residents that the state government was working closely with security agencies to secure the safe release of the victims. The governor disclosed that he had been holding regular security meetings to monitor developments and coordinate rescue efforts.
At the federal level, President Bola Tinubu on May 31, 2026, dispatched a high-powered delegation to the affected communities. The delegation was led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
The President also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and directed security agencies to intensify operations aimed at rescuing the abducted teachers and pupils.
Despite these interventions, the prolonged captivity of the victims has generated anxiety among education workers and prompted action by the teachers’ union.
Announcing the strike, the NUT said teachers could no longer continue academic activities while their colleagues and pupils remained in captivity. The union described the situation as unacceptable and insisted that adequate measures must be taken to guarantee the safety of teachers and students in schools.
The union further declared that the strike would remain in effect until all abducted persons regain their freedom. It also called on its members and stakeholders nationwide to participate in solidarity rallies scheduled for June 2, 2026, to draw attention to the plight of the victims and the growing security challenges facing schools.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to officially confirm the rescue or release of the 46 abducted teachers and pupils.This version follows a conventional news structure with a headline, dateline, balanced tone, chronological presentation of facts, and attribution consistent with professional journalism standards.
