Oyo NUT Ends Strike Following Government Appeal as Rescue Efforts Intensify
47 days after schoolchildren and teachers were abducted in Oriire Local Government Area, concern continues to grow over the safety and wellbeing of the children who remain in captivity.
The abduction in Oyo State involved more than 40 teachers and pupils travelling through the Ahoro–Esiele Yawota community. The incident triggered a statewide strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers, as educators demanded stronger protection for schools and surrounding communities.
On Wednesday, the union suspended the strike after receiving assurances from the Oyo State Government that rescue efforts had been intensified and additional security measures would be implemented. Public school teachers have been directed to resume classes from Thursday, July 2.
Among the promised measures are increased patrols around vulnerable schools, improved emergency response systems, support for affected families, and stronger implementation of the Safe School Initiative.
The Oyo case has also renewed attention on schoolchildren abducted in parts of Borno State, where families have similarly waited for months for news of missing children.
Governor Seyi Makinde has visited affected families and pledged that the abducted pupils and teachers will be brought home safely.
As classrooms reopen in Oyo State, parents, teachers, and child rights groups say the focus must remain on one goal: ensuring every child still in captivity in Oyo and Borno returns home safely and receives the support needed to recover from the ordeal.
