Teachers in the Nigerian state of Oyo went on indefinite strike after the kidnapping of dozens of children and teachers. According to the army, Islamists from Boko Haram are behind it.
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has declared an indefinite strike from Monday to protest the abduction of dozens of children and their teachers from three schools in mid-May in southwestern Nigeria. The army suspects Islamists from the militant group Boko Haram of this kidnapping. This was reported by the AFP agency, writes TASR.
The union has called on primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to suspend classes, stay at home and “law-abiding” until further notice. The NUT justified its strike by the continued detention of the abductees and concerns about their safe return. According to them, the resulting situation created fear, reduced school attendance and increased tension in communities. The trade unionists are also urging the government to ensure the safe and immediate return of the abductees, who include children between the ages of two and 16.
The reaction of the security forces
In the meantime, Nigerian security forces have intensified operations against Islamists in the north of the country. The government, in turn, announced the strengthening of security in the region, including the deployment of forest guards. President Bola Tinubu on Sunday announced that he is sending a “high-level” delegation to Oyo State, comprising government ministers and the Inspector General of Police.
Kidnappings for ransom are not uncommon in northern Nigeria, a region that has long been subject to attacks by jihadist groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) and criminal gangs that carry out mass kidnappings. However, such violence and kidnappings are unusual for Oyo, one of Nigeria’s most populous states.
AFP reported earlier that after IS’s defeat in the Middle East, it turned its focus to Africa, where 86 percent of the group’s global activities took place in the first three months of 2026, according to Armed Conflict Location & Event Data.
