The Oyo State Executive Council has appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) to call off its ongoing withdrawal of services and allow pupils and students in public schools across the state to return to their classrooms, warning that the continued disruption of academic activities could have far-reaching consequences on the educational development of thousands of learners.
The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, following the weekly meeting of the State Executive Council held on Tuesday.
The council expressed concern over the prolonged closure of public schools occasioned by the industrial action embarked upon by teachers in the state in response to the tragic abduction and killing of some of their colleagues in Oriire Local Government Area.
The NUT had directed teachers in public schools to stay away from classrooms following the May 15, 2026, attack on schools in Oriire LGA, where gunmen abducted dozens of pupils and teachers, sparking outrage and fear across the state.
The incident remains one of the most disturbing attacks on educational institutions in Oyo State in recent years. According to reports, a total of 46 persons comprising 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers from Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, were abducted during the invasion by armed kidnappers.
The attack sent shockwaves throughout the state and reignited concerns over the growing insecurity affecting schools and rural communities across Nigeria. The situation became even more tragic when a teacher, Joel Adesiyan, was killed during the attack.
The grief and anger among educators deepened further after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher, was reportedly beheaded by his captors while in captivity.
The horrifying development came to public attention through a viral video allegedly released by the kidnappers, provoking widespread condemnation from citizens, labour unions, civil society groups and education stakeholders.
In its statement, the Oyo State Executive Council acknowledged the pain, trauma and concerns of teachers following the unfortunate incident, noting that the government shared in the grief of the affected families and educational communities.
However, the council urged the teachers’ union to consider the long-term impact of keeping schools closed and to allow academic activities to resume while efforts to strengthen security continue.
According to the government, education remains a critical pillar of development, and the continued absence of teachers from classrooms risks disrupting learning schedules, examination preparations and the overall academic progress of pupils and students across the state.
The council stressed that while the concerns raised by teachers were legitimate, the interests of schoolchildren must also be carefully protected to prevent an educational setback.
It stated that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration remained committed to ensuring the safety of both teachers and students and was already implementing measures aimed at improving security around schools and vulnerable communities.
The government also highlighted ongoing collaboration with security agencies to track down the perpetrators of the attack and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Officials noted that several security interventions had been initiated since the abduction, including increased surveillance in affected areas, enhanced intelligence gathering and stronger coordination among security operatives deployed across the state.
The Executive Council further assured residents that the state government would not relent in its efforts to guarantee the safety of educational institutions and restore confidence among teachers, parents and students.
While sympathising with members of the teaching profession, the council maintained that prolonged school closures could create additional challenges for students who are already grappling with the effects of disruptions caused by insecurity and other socio-economic factors.
Education stakeholders have continued to express mixed reactions to the situation. Many teachers argue that their refusal to return to classrooms is a necessary response to what they describe as increasing threats to their safety and lives while carrying out their professional responsibilities.
Some educators insist that without concrete security guarantees, asking teachers to return to schools could expose them to further danger. Parents, on the other hand, have voiced growing concerns over the impact of the strike on their children’s education, especially for pupils preparing for crucial examinations and transition programmes.
Several parent associations have called on both the government and the NUT to engage in constructive dialogue and find a lasting solution that addresses security concerns while ensuring that learning activities resume as quickly as possible.
Observers note that the crisis highlights the broader challenge of insecurity confronting Nigeria’s education sector, particularly in rural communities where schools have increasingly become targets for kidnappers seeking ransom payments.
Over the past few years, attacks on schools in different parts of the country have raised serious questions about the protection of students, teachers and educational infrastructure.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that persistent attacks on schools could discourage enrolment, increase dropout rates and undermine efforts to improve educational outcomes.
The tragic events in Oriire Local Government Area have therefore become a symbol of the urgent need for stronger protection measures within the nation’s education system. As public pressure mounts, attention is now focused on ongoing discussions between the Oyo State Government and the Nigerian Union of Teachers.
Many stakeholders hope that both parties will reach an agreement that balances the safety concerns of teachers with the educational needs of students. For now, thousands of pupils remain out of school as uncertainty lingers over when normal academic activities will fully resume.
The state government has reiterated its commitment to dialogue and security reforms, while urging teachers to return to their classrooms in the interest of the children whose futures depend on uninterrupted access to education.
The coming days are expected to be crucial as efforts continue to restore confidence, strengthen school security and bring an end to a crisis that has deeply affected families, educators and communities across Oyo State.
