Academic activities across public primary and secondary schools in Oyo State were on Monday brought to a halt following a directive by the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers for teachers nationwide to stage a peaceful protest over the abduction of students and teachers in the state.
The industrial action affected public schools across the 33 local government areas of the state, leaving classrooms deserted and thousands of pupils stranded as school gates remained under lock and key.
The protest was triggered by the recent kidnapping of students and teachers from both public and private schools in Ahoro Esienle, located in Oriire Local Government Area, an incident that has continued to generate anxiety among parents, teachers and residents.
In compliance with the directive from the union’s national leadership in Abuja, teachers in the eleven local government areas that make up Ibadanland stayed away from classrooms, effectively paralysing academic activities throughout the metropolis.
Checks in different parts of Ibadan showed that schools in Molete, Orita Challenge, New Garage, Odo Ona and adjoining areas did not open for normal academic work as students who arrived early in the morning were immediately turned back by school authorities.
Many pupils, some accompanied by parents and guardians, were seen leaving school premises in confusion after meeting locked gates and empty compounds.
At several schools visited, notices announcing the suspension of classes were pasted at entrances, informing parents and students that the closure was in compliance with the directive of the teachers’ union.
Some parents expressed concern over the worsening insecurity in parts of the state, saying the kidnapping of students and teachers had heightened fears among education workers and families.
A parent who spoke near one of the schools in the Orita Challenge area said the decision by teachers to protest was understandable given the growing danger faced by both staff and students.
According to her, schools can only function effectively in an atmosphere where teachers and pupils feel safe and protected.
Teachers who participated in the peaceful protest said the action was aimed at drawing the attention of authorities to the urgent need to improve security around schools, especially in rural communities where kidnappers and criminal gangs have increasingly targeted vulnerable institutions.
Some union members lamented that the repeated attacks on schools across the country were creating fear among teachers, many of whom now feel unsafe carrying out their duties.
They called on both federal and state governments to strengthen security architecture around schools and ensure the safe return of the abducted victims.
The union also stressed that education cannot thrive in an environment where teachers and learners are constantly exposed to threats of violence and abduction.
Residents in parts of Ibadan expressed mixed reactions to the shutdown, with some supporting the protest as a necessary step to pressure authorities into action, while others worried about the continuous disruption of academic activities in public schools.
Commercial activities around some schools were also affected, as traders who depend on students and staff for daily patronage recorded low turnout.
The abduction incident in Ahoro Esienle has sparked outrage among civil society groups, education stakeholders and community leaders, many of whom have urged security agencies to intensify rescue operations and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Concerned citizens have also called for improved surveillance and security deployment around schools, particularly in remote communities where response time during emergencies is often slow.
As of Monday afternoon, there was no indication of when normal academic activities would resume in affected schools, although union leaders maintained that the protest was intended to send a strong message about the deteriorating security situation facing the education sector.
Parents and guardians have continued to appeal to government authorities to act swiftly in securing the release of the kidnapped students and teachers while restoring confidence in the safety of schools across the state.
