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

Adeleke Approves New Salary Package for UNILESA Lecturers

OSOGBO, OSUN STATE – Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the immediate implementation of a reviewed remuneration package for academic staff of the University of Ilesa (UNILESA) . The new pay structure mirrors the package earlier approved for Osun State University, Osogbo (UNIOSUN) , representing a significant step in standardising compensation across state-owned universities in Osun and bringing UNILESA academics to par with their counterparts at the more established institution.

The approval was conveyed to the UNILESA Vice-Chancellor in a letter dated May 29, 2026, with reference number NEBS/UNILESA/VOL.2/033, signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr M.A.K. Jimoh . The letter formally communicated the governor’s directive for immediate implementation of the reviewed pay structure. According to the state government, the review is aimed at improving staff welfare and motivation, reducing brain drain, and positioning the university to attract top-tier, world-class academics . The government’s proactive approach to staff welfare is seen as a strategic move to retain experienced lecturers and recruit new talent in an increasingly competitive academic environment.

Reacting to the development in a statement issued by the Senior Assistant Registrar of the Corporate Services and Information Unit, Babatunde Fanawopo, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), commended the governor for his continued commitment to education and staff welfare . Professor Asaolu assured that the gesture would further enhance dedication to teaching, research and community service as the university pursues its vision of becoming a centre of academic excellence . He noted that improved remuneration directly correlates with staff productivity and institutional output, particularly in research publications and student mentorship.

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This latest salary approval follows a series of significant interventions by the Adeleke administration at the University of Ilesa, which was established in April 2023 following the upgrade of the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa . In April 2026, the Osun State Government approved the payment of over N3 billion in outstanding allowances and related entitlements owed to staff . Professor Asaolu disclosed during the institution’s third anniversary celebration in Ilesa that the government also approved the conversion of no fewer than 300 temporary staff to permanent appointments . According to the Vice-Chancellor, the intervention helped address earlier labour-related concerns within the institution, particularly those inherited from the former college . Retired staff and next-of-kin of deceased workers also benefited from the payments, bringing closure to long-standing financial obligations.

Professor Asaolu noted that the university had recorded remarkable transformation across its academic, infrastructural, and administrative sectors within three years of its establishment . He described the condition inherited at inception as challenging, marked by dilapidated infrastructure, obsolete facilities, and demoralised staff, with a student population of fewer than 1,000 . “The situation posed serious challenges to our take-off, but today, we have a good story to tell,” the Vice-Chancellor stated during a press briefing . Student enrolment has since grown from fewer than 1,000 at inception to over 15,000 across degree, JUPEB, and pre-degree programmes , which Professor Asaolu described as a reflection of public confidence in the university’s academic offerings.

The university currently runs 97 academic programmes, all approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) , covering disciplines such as Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education . Forty of these programmes have already secured full accreditation status, which the Vice-Chancellor described as remarkable for a relatively young institution . The university has also received approval to commence the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, pending final clearance from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) . “This positions us strategically in medical education and healthcare delivery,” Professor Asaolu said .

As part of its expansion efforts, the university has established a Faculty of Technology with programmes in Civil, Computer, Electrical, and Mechatronics Engineering . The institution also reclaimed 15 acres of land previously occupied by housing units built by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and acquired 24 units on the site to serve as the faculty’s base . The Vice-Chancellor also announced the establishment of the University of Ilesa Teaching Hospital following the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, which is being upgraded to support clinical training and improve healthcare delivery in Ijesaland and surrounding areas .

In a bid to address manpower gaps, the university has introduced tuition-free education for students in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture . Additionally, children and wards of staff enjoy a 50 per cent tuition discount as part of the institution’s commitment to staff welfare . The institution has also strengthened entrepreneurship training, equipping students with practical skills in areas such as fashion design, solar installation, agribusiness, and digital content creation . “These initiatives ensure our graduates are job creators, not just job seekers,” Professor Asaolu said . The state government also reconstructed the university’s road network, improving accessibility and campus aesthetics .

Despite progress made, the Vice-Chancellor identified key challenges, including inadequate hostel accommodation, unstable power supply, and the need for more lecture halls and laboratories, while assuring that the university was addressing these issues as part of its long-term development plan . Professor Asaolu reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, infrastructure development, staff welfare, and community engagement, expressing appreciation to the Governing Council, staff, students, donors, and the Ijesa community for their support . “As we consolidate these gains, we remain committed to building a world-class institution that will stand the test of time,” he said .

Adeleke Approves New Salary Package for UNILESA Lecturers