Oyo NUT Meets Governor Makinde as Teachers' Strike Continues Over Abductions

Teachers in Oyo State, Nigeria, remain on an indefinite strike, demanding the safe return of 39 students and seven teachers abducted from schools in the Oriire Local Government Area. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) met with Governor Seyi Makinde to present its requests, focusing on the urgent rescue of the victims and the strengthening of security across all schools in the state.

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The governor received us today to engage us, but the next line of action now is for us to refer the matter back to the national body.

The union's ongoing action, which began on June 1, was directed by its national leadership. The NUT secretary, Salami Olukayode, stated that the meeting with the governor was an engagement, but the final decision on the strike's continuation rests with the national body. "The governor received us today to engage us, but the next line of action now is for us to refer the matter back to the national body," Olukayode said.

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We are requesting them to synergise with all necessary authorities down to the local government level to secure the release of these victims. Because for them to continue to be in captivity, the agony in the land continues to mount.

Beyond the immediate rescue, the NUT highlighted the significant psychological and emotional impact the abductions have had on teachers, families, and communities. Olukayode stressed the need for "concrete school protection measures" and urged authorities to "synergise with all necessary authorities down to the local government level to secure the release of these victims." The union fears the "agony in the land continues to mount" as long as the captives remain in captivity.

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The incident affected us because they are our colleagues, and those children are small children. Anybody with blood running in their body would sympathise with those teachers and pupils.

Teachers express deep-seated fears about school security, even as efforts to free the abducted individuals continue. Akande Rukayat, a teacher at Muslim Grammar School, described the incident as deeply affecting, stating, "Anybody with blood running in their body would sympathise with those teachers and pupils." While some schools have tightened security, many educators feel unsafe returning to classrooms without visible improvements. "In my school now, before anybody enters, we record the person’s name and purpose," Rukayat noted, but added that many teachers still fear for their safety.

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In my school now, before anybody enters, we record the person’s name and purpose.