Oyo Abduction: No School Safe in Nigeria, Kwara Teachers Protest

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing, on Tuesday joined a nationwide solidarity rally to protest the abduction of teachers and students in Oyo State, warning that no school in Nigeria can currently be considered safe due to rising insecurity.

 

The rally, held in Ilorin, was organised in support of victims of the May 15 attack on schools in Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where armed men abducted 46 persons, including 39 students and seven teachers.

 

The incident sparked widespread outrage after reports emerged that a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded by the kidnappers, while another teacher was killed during the attack.

 

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “From Chibok to Oriire: Our children are still crying,” “We say no to attacks on schools,” and “A nation that cannot protect its schools has no future,” the protesters called on government authorities to take urgent steps to secure educational institutions across the country.

 

Speaking during the rally, the Deputy Secretary-General of the NUT in Kwara State, Mike Modesty, described the continued captivity of the victims as unacceptable.

 

“They have been abducted since May 15. One teacher has been killed and the remaining ones are still in captivity. And we are hearing that the bandits want to negotiate. Negotiate what? The lives of our children and the teachers?” he said.

 

Modesty said the Oyo incident reflected a growing trend of attacks on schools across Nigeria, citing similar cases in Borno and Zamfara states.

 

“There are no safe schools. Whether they call themselves bandits, Boko Haram or any other name, they have one mission — to make sure people no longer go to school,” he said.

 

He urged the government, communities and individuals to work together to tackle insecurity, noting that some attackers in the Oyo incident reportedly spoke Yoruba during the operation, suggesting possible local collaboration.

 

“It is the rat inside the house that invites those outside to come in,” he said.

 

The union leader also expressed concern over increasing attacks on travellers, traditional rulers and religious leaders, saying the security crisis had affected every segment of society.

 

“Nobody is really safe,” he stated.

 

Modesty criticised the government’s response to insecurity, arguing that more decisive action was needed.

 

“We must be truthful to ourselves; government has not done enough,” he said.

 

He suggested that the Federal Government seek support from countries with proven expertise in combating terrorism and kidnapping if local efforts were proving inadequate.

 

“There are countries that specialise in handling issues of this nature. Government should source help from those countries,” he added.

 

The NUT official further linked the rising crime rate to worsening poverty and economic hardship, saying hunger was driving many people into criminal activities.

 

He warned that the union could consider more drastic actions, including a possible nationwide shutdown of schools, if attacks on educational institutions persist.

 

“That may be the next action that the national union may take because this is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

 

According to him, fear among teachers, students and parents is already affecting school attendance in many communities.

 

“Imagine sending your child to school and not being sure the child will return home safely,” Modesty said.

 

He also highlighted the psychological impact of the abductions on victims and their families, noting that rescued children may require extensive rehabilitation before returning to school.

 

The union called on all stakeholders, including traditional institutions and community leaders, to support efforts aimed at ending insecurity and protecting schools nationwide.