Outrage as WAEC WASSCE Exams Run Into Night, Trigger Fresh Concerns

LAGOS — The ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) has been disrupted by widespread delays in parts of Lagos, forcing candidates to sit for papers late into the night and reigniting concerns over examination logistics and student welfare.

The examination, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), reportedly suffered repeated delays across several centres, particularly on Lagos Island and the Lekki axis, where candidates waited hours beyond scheduled times before beginning their papers.

The development has drawn criticism from parents, school administrators and education stakeholders, coming barely a year after similar disruptions saw students writing examinations as late as midnight in some centres.

According to checks at multiple centres, the delays became more severe earlier in the week, affecting core subjects including Physics and Mathematics.

On Monday, Physics Papers 1 and 2, scheduled for 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., reportedly did not start on time, with some candidates only beginning and completing the second paper around 8 p.m.

On Wednesday, candidates writing General Mathematics also experienced prolonged delays. The morning essay paper, scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, and the objective paper slated for 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., were reportedly not completed until around 10 p.m. in some centres.

By Thursday evening, candidates scheduled for the Agricultural Science Practical were still waiting for examination materials several hours after the expected start time, with reports indicating that question papers had not arrived at some centres.

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A school principal, who spoke anonymously, described the situation as distressing and harmful to candidates’ performance.

“Why are we experiencing this again after what happened last year? Apart from the security concerns in the country, these delays have psychological effects on candidates,” the principal said, noting that students were being forced to write exams late at night after long hours of waiting.

A parent in the Lekki area also expressed frustration, saying the recurring delays showed that lessons had not been learned from previous examination cycles.

“My child returned home around 10 p.m. on Wednesday. We expected improvement after last year, but the same issues are happening again,” he said.

The situation has also sparked widespread reactions on social media, where parents and concerned citizens lamented poor coordination, delayed arrival of examination materials, and alleged lapses in supervision at some centres.

Some users claimed that candidates were left waiting for hours before invigilators arrived, while others raised concerns about unofficial fees allegedly demanded in some centres for examination materials such as mathematical sets. These claims, however, remain unverified.

Education stakeholders have warned that repeated night-time examinations could expose students to safety risks, reduce concentration levels, and undermine the credibility of the WASSCE examination process.

A WAEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed awareness of the disruptions and attributed them to unforeseen logistical challenges.

“Yes, we are aware of some hitches due to unforeseen circumstances. However, we are doing everything possible to address the issues, and hopefully, things will return to normal soon,” the official said.

However, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has yet to issue a formal public statement detailing the causes of the delays or outlining corrective measures.

Stakeholders are now calling on WAEC to urgently investigate the recurring logistical failures, improve coordination with security and logistics partners, and ensure strict adherence to examination timetables to prevent further disruption.

Education analysts warn that unless systemic issues are addressed, repeated delays could continue to affect candidates’ performance and erode public confidence in the examination system.

Outrage as WAEC WASSCE Exams Run Into Night, Trigger Fresh Concerns

NUT, ANCOPSS Lead Nationwide Protest Over Abducted Ogbomoso Pupils, Teachers

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) on Tuesday staged coordinated protests across Nigeria, demanding the immediate rescue of dozens of pupils and teachers abducted by gunmen in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The nationwide demonstrations came as pressure mounted on security agencies and government authorities to secure the release of the victims, who have remained in captivity for more than two weeks following a deadly attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area.

The protest followed a directive from the national leadership of the NUT, which recently declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State and instructed its branches across the country to organize solidarity rallies in support of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.

In a statement issued by ANCOPSS National Secretary, Tawo Akuben, the association said school principals nationwide were mobilized to participate in the protest as part of efforts to draw national attention to the plight of the victims.

According to the statement, the trauma and suffering being endured by the abducted children and their teachers have become a source of concern for educators across the country.

“The pains, psychological and emotional trauma experienced by the abducted is better imagined than felt,” the statement noted, adding that the protest was in response to calls for urgent intervention to secure their freedom.

The National President of ANCOPSS, Dr. Robert Ike Okorie, directed state executives of the association, including those in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to mobilize principals in their respective states to participate in the solidarity rallies.

Reports indicated that demonstrations took place in several states, including Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory. In Lagos, protesters marched from the Balogun area of Ikeja toward the state secretariat in Alausa, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards demanding the release of the victims.

The demonstrators temporarily occupied parts of major roads as they called on President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the captives. Similar rallies were also held in Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Abeokuta and other locations, where teachers, principals, education administrators and concerned citizens joined the campaign.

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Education stakeholders described the abduction as a direct assault on Nigeria’s education sector, warning that continued attacks on schools could discourage enrollment and undermine learning outcomes, particularly in rural communities.

The protests stem from the May 15 attack on schools located in Ahoro-Esin-Ele and Yawota communities in Oriire LGA of Oyo State. During the attack, armed men stormed three schools and abducted 39 pupils and seven teachers, triggering widespread outrage across the country.

The affected institutions included Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. The victims reportedly include children between the ages of two and sixteen years.

The attack turned deadly after gunmen killed an assistant headmaster and a commercial motorcyclist who was reportedly caught in the violence. Public anger intensified days later following reports that one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed while in captivity.

The development heightened fears for the safety of the remaining victims and fueled calls for urgent government action. In videos that circulated widely on social media, Rachael Alamu, principal of Community High School, Esiele, who is among the abducted victims, appealed for urgent intervention.

She reportedly disclosed that the kidnappers had threatened to kill additional captives if efforts were not made to secure their release. The emotional appeal sparked renewed concern among parents, teachers and community leaders, many of whom have continued to demand direct negotiations and intensified rescue operations.

Amid growing public pressure, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde recently visited the families of the abducted pupils and teachers, assuring them that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe return of their loved ones.

The Federal Government also dispatched a high-powered delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, and Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, to Ogbomoso to assess the situation and reassure residents of the government’s commitment to rescuing the victims.

Following the visit, President Bola Tinubu directed the deployment of a specialized security and rescue unit equipped with advanced operational capabilities to support efforts aimed at freeing the captives.

The President also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State as part of broader efforts to strengthen security in vulnerable communities and forest corridors frequently exploited by criminal gangs. There are also indications that the Federal Government is considering requests for the establishment of a military base in the affected area to curb future attacks.

The NUT has insisted that its industrial action and advocacy campaign will continue until all abducted pupils and teachers regain their freedom. Protesters across the country similarly vowed to sustain pressure on authorities, arguing that schools must remain safe environments for learning and development.

With anxiety growing among affected families and communities, attention remains focused on ongoing rescue efforts and the government’s ability to secure the release of the victims without further loss of life.

NUT, ANCOPSS Lead Nationwide Protest Over Abducted Ogbomoso Pupils, Teachers

NUT Declares Indefinite Strike in Oyo Over Abducted Teachers, Pupils

IBADAN – The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to commence an indefinite strike from Monday, June 1, 2026, over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils in the state.

The directive, issued by the union’s national leadership and conveyed through the Oyo State Wing, is intended to press home demands for urgent government action to secure the safe release of the victims, whose whereabouts remain unknown more than two weeks after they were taken captive.

In a statement signed by the NUT Oyo State Wing Chairman, Hassan Fatai, and Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union said the prolonged captivity of the abductees has created fear and anxiety among teachers and disrupted confidence in the school system. According to the union, the situation has also discouraged parents from sending their children to school and heightened tension within affected communities.

The NUT stated that the strike is aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the need for intensified efforts to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted teachers and pupils. It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain law-abiding, and ensure their safety while staying away from classrooms throughout the period of the industrial action. The union also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, stressing that it would continue engagements with relevant authorities until the affected individuals are safely rescued. It reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare and security of teachers and learners nationwide, noting that the protection of school communities remains a top priority.

In a circular jointly signed by the National President of the union, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, and the Secretary General, Dr. Clinton J. Ikpitibo, the NUT confirmed the strike directive and ordered all its state wings across the country to organise nationwide solidarity rallies on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to demand the unconditional release of the abducted teachers and learners. According to the directive, participants in the rallies are expected to converge at various Government Houses across the federation, where state leaders of the union will address the media on the need to guarantee safer learning environments for teachers and students. The union’s national leadership described the rallies as part of broader efforts to demand safe and secure learning environments across Nigeria.

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Speaking with The PUNCH on Sunday, Amba confirmed the directive, saying teachers had been instructed to stay at home until further notice. “We have directed all teachers in Oyo State to remain at home starting from tomorrow (Monday),” the NUT National President told The PUNCH. The national circular, dated May 29, 2026, directed all “public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw services indefinitely from Monday, June 1, 2026, until the abducted colleagues and learners are safely released.”

The NUT expressed deep concern over what it described as the “horrifying, inhumane and traumatic conditions” being endured by the abducted teachers and students since their abduction on May 15, 2026, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The union lamented that despite previous appeals to government and security agencies to secure the release of the victims, they remained in captivity, while reports emerging from the kidnappers’ den continued to generate anxiety among teachers, parents and members of the public. According to the union, the prolonged captivity of the teachers and learners, coupled with the absence of any clear indication of their imminent rescue, informed its decision to direct teachers in Oyo State to suspend academic activities until the victims regain their freedom. The union recalled its earlier statement titled “Stop the Attacks on Schools, Teachers and Learners Now – Not Until We Perish,” noting that it had previously warned of possible industrial action should urgent measures fail to secure the release of the victims.

The abductions occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools simultaneously in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire LGA, Oyo State. The targeted schools included Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School. The attackers, numbering about 12, came on motorcycles and struck at about 9:30 a.m., abducting a total of 39 students and seven teachers. Among those abducted is a two-year-old pupil of Yawota Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Christianah Akanbi.

During the attack, a mathematics teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was beheaded. A motorcyclist was also killed after resisting having his motorcycle snatched, and a security operative died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors during early rescue attempts. The car of the Principal of Community Grammar School, Mrs. Rachael Alamu, was forcefully used to convey some people before being abandoned and set ablaze. The union expressed particular concern over reports of killings among the captives, as well as emotional video appeals allegedly made by the abducted school principal (Mrs. Rachael Alamu) and a nursing mother from inside their captors’ den, calling on the Federal Government, Oyo State Government, the NUT, and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene and secure their release.

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The Oyo State wing of the NUT has confirmed full compliance with the directive. In a circular dated May 31, 2026, signed by State Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union formally announced the withdrawal of services by teachers in public schools across the state. The state wing urged members to remain law-abiding and stay safe at home while engagements continue with relevant authorities for the safe return of the abductees. It also reaffirmed solidarity with victims and their families, calling for urgent and decisive action to address insecurity in schools. The union reiterated its commitment to the welfare and security of teachers and learners nationwide, noting that the protection of school communities remains a top priority. It assured members that it would continue lawful engagements with relevant government authorities until the victims regain their freedom.

The strike announcement came on the same day a high-powered Federal Government delegation, led by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, visited the affected communities to convey President Bola Tinubu’s concern over the incident. During the visit, the President approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State in partnership with the Oyo State Government and directed a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free the abducted pupils and teachers. The delegation also informed community leaders that their request for the establishment of a military base in the area would be transmitted to the President for consideration and approval.

Members of the delegation included the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.) ; and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare. Addressing residents in English and Yoruba, Gbajabiamila said Tinubu’s decision to dispatch top security officials to the affected communities reflected the administration’s determination to deploy every available resource to secure the victims’ release. Responding to appeals from parents and community leaders urging caution in the rescue mission, he said security agencies would rely on intelligence-driven strategies to safeguard the lives of the victims.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, visited the affected communities on Saturday and assured families of the victims that efforts were ongoing to secure their release. “Please believe in me. I have not been sleeping well myself. Together with the service commanders, we meet twice every day, once in the morning and once at night, sometimes until 10 or 11 p.m.,” the governor said. The governor has also appealed to residents, families and concerned citizens to pray for the safe release of the abducted victims, warning that protests could embolden their captors and undermine ongoing rescue efforts.

As of the time of reporting, rescue operations were ongoing, with security agencies working to secure the safe return of all abducted victims.

NUT Declares Indefinite Strike in Oyo Over Abducted Teachers, Pupils