The Nigeria Labour Congress has thrown its weight behind the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers and is demanding the immediate release of pupils, students and teachers kidnapped across Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the labour body described the teachers’ action as a necessary response to worsening insecurity in schools. According to the Congress, the strike reflects the resolve of teachers to protect themselves as attacks on educational institutions and personnel increase. “The national and well-coordinated action represents the resolve of Teachers to take their destiny in their hands instead of waiting to be slaughtered to the last person”.
The union said the industrial action should also serve as a reminder to governments at all levels to treat the growing insecurity confronting Nigerians with more seriousness. It called the strike “a gentle but unignorable nudge on the governments to take more seriously the growing insecurity industry”.
The NLC commended the leadership of the NUT under Titus Audu Amba for taking what it termed a thoughtful step to draw attention to the safety of teachers and students nationwide. The labour body also expressed concern over the vulnerability of other workers, including local government employees, doctors, nurses and health personnel, who have increasingly become targets of kidnappers and bandits.
Reacting specifically to reports of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo State, the Congress said it was deeply troubled by images showing the condition of the victims. “We are heartbroken by the ugly pictures of our children, held and tortured by depraved bandits in the forests of Oyo state,” the statement added. The labour union warned that insecurity had become a nationwide crisis requiring urgent intervention.
The crisis began on May 15, 2026, when armed men attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State: Community Grammar School in Esiele, Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota, and L.A. Primary School. The gunmen abducted pupils and teachers during the raid. During the attack, mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun was beheaded, a motorcyclist was killed, and a security personnel died after running into improvised explosive devices planted by the abductors.
Following the abductions, the NUT directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State to withdraw their services indefinitely from Monday, June 1, 2026, until the abducted colleagues and learners are safely released. The union said the continued detention had created fear, anxiety and disruption within the education sector. Nationwide solidarity rallies were held on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, across all 36 state capitals to demand the unconditional release of the victims.
President Bola Tinubu has issued directives to security agencies and approved 1,000 forest guards to be recruited in collaboration with the Oyo State Government to support rescue efforts. Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured parents that the operation would be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to secure the safe return of the victims.
