Oyo School Abduction: Teachers Flood Lagos Streets, Demand Rescue of Pupils and Colleagues

Hundreds of teachers on Tuesday took to the streets of Lagos in a show of solidarity for schoolchildren and educators abducted in Oyo State, intensifying calls for swift government action to secure their release and restore confidence in the safety of schools across Nigeria.

The peaceful rally, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), saw teachers march through major parts of Ikeja carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding an end to attacks on schools and the protection of education workers. Some of the placards bore messages such as “End the religion of fear in our schools,” “Let teachers teach in peace,” and “Education under attack is a nation under threat.”

The demonstration forms part of a nationwide mobilisation by the union following the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Ahoro-Esienle and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The victims were kidnapped on May 15 when armed men invaded three educational institutions Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School sparking national concern over the worsening security situation around schools.

Nationwide Outrage

The Lagos rally came a day after public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were shut down as teachers complied with a union directive to protest the continued captivity of their colleagues and students.

Similar demonstrations were reported in parts of Oyo and Ogun states, where labour activists, civil society groups, parents and concerned residents joined calls for urgent intervention. The abduction has reignited fears over the vulnerability of schools, particularly those located in rural communities and has renewed conversations about the growing threat posed by criminal groups targeting educational institutions.

In a circular issued on May 29, the National leadership of the NUT directed its branches across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to organise solidarity rallies aimed at drawing national attention to the security crisis facing schools.

‘Seven of My Members Are Still in Captivity’

Speaking ahead of the nationwide protests, NUT National President, Audu Amba, expressed deep concern over the fate of the abducted victims, revealing that seven teachers remain in captivity. According to him, the prolonged detention of educators and schoolchildren has become unacceptable and requires immediate action from authorities.

“I don’t think any Nigerian is happy with the situation on our hands. Seven of my members are currently in captivity. Enough is enough,” Amba said.

He warned that insecurity has become one of the greatest threats facing the education sector, stressing that meaningful teaching and learning cannot take place in an atmosphere dominated by fear and uncertainty.

“If the school environment is not safe, how are we going to teach? How will the children learn? Education is critical and our schools must be safe for teaching and learning,” he stated.

Growing Concern Over Use of Children as Shields

The union also expressed alarm over reports that abducted pupils and students are increasingly being used as human shields by criminal groups to frustrate rescue efforts. Amba described the development as deeply disturbing and dangerous.

“We are deeply disturbed by this ugly trend of terrorists using our pupils and students as shields. It is a very dangerous development. Innocent children must not be used in such a manner,” he said.

Education stakeholders have warned that such tactics not only complicate rescue operations but also expose children to severe physical and psychological trauma.

Lagos State NUT Chairman, Akintoye Hassan, said the union deliberately rejected calls for a nationwide shutdown of schools despite mounting security concerns. According to him, closing schools across the country would amount to allowing criminals to achieve their objective of disrupting education.

He noted that while schools in Oyo State were temporarily closed due to the emergency situation, most schools nationwide have remained open as a demonstration of resilience.

“We cannot hand victory to those who want to destroy education through fear. Schools must continue to function while government intensifies efforts to protect them,” he said.

Hassan also warned that insecurity, once largely concentrated in parts of northern Nigeria, is steadily spreading into other regions.

“It started in the North-East, spread to the North-West and North-Central, and now it has reached the South-West, which many regard as one of the safest regions in the country,” he said.

Pressure Mounts on Government

The Oyo school abduction has attracted widespread condemnation from education stakeholders, parents, community leaders and civil society organizations. Public pressure on authorities increased further after President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, visited families of the abducted victims and assured them that efforts were ongoing to secure their freedom.

Gbajabiamila said the President had been fully briefed on the situation and had directed security agencies to deploy all available resources towards rescuing the victims and apprehending those responsible.

For many teachers participating in Tuesday’s rally, however, assurances alone are no longer enough. They insist that the rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers must remain an urgent national priority and have called for stronger security measures around schools, particularly in remote communities that remain vulnerable to attacks.

As demonstrations continue across the country, the message from educators is clear: schools must remain places of learning not targets of violence and every child deserves the right to pursue an education without fear.