Teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Osun State on Tuesday staged a solidarity protest to demand the rescue of teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The protesters, led by the Osun State NUT Chairman, Babatunde Babalola, marched from Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, through the Osogbo/Gbongan Road before ending the protest at the Osun Government Secretariat in Abere.

The demonstration followed the abduction of pupils and teachers by armed men who attacked three schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo State on May 15, 2026.

The affected schools included Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, located in the Esiele and Yawota communities.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop killing custodians of knowledge,” “From Chibok to Oriire, our children are still crying,” and “Set our teachers, pupils & students free from captivity,” the protesters called on the government to tackle the worsening insecurity in the country.

Speaking during the protest, Babalola said the teachers were demonstrating in solidarity with their abducted colleagues and pupils.

“We are out today in solidarity with our colleagues and students who were abducted in Oriire Local Government, Oyo State,” he said.

He also sympathised with the families of victims who lost their lives during the attack and urged the government to ensure the safe return of those still in captivity.

Babalola further appealed to the Federal Government to address the country’s security challenges and guarantee safety in schools.

“We are also appealing to the federal government to look into the security issues and find a lasting solution to the problem. Without adequate security in our schools, the learning environment would not be conducive,” he added.

Receiving the protesters on behalf of the Osun State Government, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Muritala Jimoh, assured them that the government would continue efforts to secure schools across the state.

Jimoh also urged teachers to remain security-conscious and promptly report suspicious activities around their schools to security agencies.

“The state government is doing everything possible towards the security of our teachers and students,” he said.

“Our security outfits are on alert. If you hear anything, quickly alert security agencies. We are doing our best to keep Osun schools secure. We need to cooperate,” he added.