Heavy downpour could not stop angry demonstrators in Oyo State on Monday as they marched to the Government House in Ibadan to protest the kidnapping of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area.

The protest was organized by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group, backed by civil society groups and the Nigeria Teachers Congress. Despite the rain, teachers, parents, and concerned citizens trooped out, chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with messages like “Bring back our children and teachers” and “No safety, no school”.

The anger stems from a May 15, 2026 attack on three schools in Esiele and Yawota communities near Ogbomoso. Armed men invaded the schools and abducted 7 teachers and several pupils, including toddlers aged 2-3 years. Governor Seyi Makinde later confirmed that one of the kidnapped teachers was killed in captivity.

Before heading to the Government House, protesters shut down schools in Ogbomoso and moved to the TESCOM office in Ibadan. National President of the Nigeria Teachers Congress, Rev. Bunmi Thomas, told reporters the action was peaceful and necessary: “We are demanding concrete steps from government to secure the release of the abducted victims. More needs to be done”.

He added that the captives are being held in forest conditions, exposed to rain and harsh weather for days.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers has also ordered all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo to withdraw services indefinitely from June 1, 2026. The union further directed all state chapters to hold nationwide solidarity rallies on June 2, converging at government houses to demand safer schools.

President Tinubu has since approved 1,000 forest rangers for Oyo to patrol forest reserves being used as criminal hideouts.