Empty Classrooms in Oyo as Strike Over Abductions Shuts Down Schools

Public primary and secondary schools across Oyo State were on Monday turned into silent corridors and locked classrooms as teachers fully complied with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) directive to withdraw services indefinitely over the continued captivity of abducted colleagues and pupils.

At Community High School, Ogungbade, Ibadan, gates were open but learning spaces remained shut, with chairs left empty and chalkboards untouched as academic activities came to an abrupt halt.

The impact extended to examination halls, as the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was disrupted in parts of the state. Supervisors were seen waiting for direction amid uncertainty over the continuation of the exercise.

Students who had reported to school were later seen walking away in clusters after realising that lessons and examinations would not proceed, while some lingered briefly before leaving the deserted premises.

The strike followed the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, an incident that has continued to deepen fear and tension across the education sector in the state.

The affected schools include Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele; L.A. Primary School, Ahoro-Esiele; and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota.

In ordering the shutdown, the NUT said the decision became unavoidable due to the prolonged captivity of victims and the uncertainty surrounding rescue efforts.

The union warned that teachers could no longer operate under conditions where safety was not guaranteed, adding that the situation had heightened anxiety among education workers and discouraged school attendance among pupils.

Credit: Vanguard