Date: June 2, 2026 l By James Emmanuel
ENUGU, Nigeria — Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Tuesday stormed the Enugu State Government House as part of a nationwide protest demanding the immediate release of teachers and schoolchildren abducted during recent attacks on schools in Oyo State.
The demonstration, which attracted scores of teachers from public primary and secondary schools across Enugu State, was organized in solidarity with colleagues and students who were kidnapped by gunmen in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15. Protesters carried placards and banners calling for urgent government intervention to secure the safe return of the victims.
The teachers marched through major roads in Enugu before converging on the Government House, where they delivered a message to state authorities and called on both federal and state governments to intensify efforts aimed at rescuing those still being held in captivity. The protesters expressed concern over the growing insecurity affecting schools and warned that continued attacks on educational institutions could undermine learning across the country.
The nationwide protest was initiated by the NUT following the abduction of dozens of students and several teachers during coordinated attacks on schools in Oyo State. According to the union, the victims have remained in captivity despite repeated appeals to security agencies and government officials for decisive action.
Addressing demonstrators, union leaders described the kidnapping of teachers and students as an assault on Nigeria’s education system and a threat to the safety of educators nationwide. They stressed that teachers cannot effectively perform their duties in an environment where schools are increasingly becoming targets for criminal groups.
The protesters urged security agencies to strengthen surveillance around schools, improve intelligence gathering, and ensure the swift rescue of all abducted victims. They also called for long-term measures to safeguard educational institutions and prevent future attacks on learners and school personnel.
Tuesday’s rally in Enugu was one of several solidarity protests held simultaneously across Nigeria. Similar demonstrations were reported in Abuja, Ogun, Oyo, and other state capitals as teachers united to demand urgent action over the worsening security situation in schools.
The NUT had earlier directed public school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite withdrawal of services beginning June 1, citing the continued detention of abducted colleagues and students. The union said the action was necessary to draw national attention to the plight of the victims and the broader issue of insecurity in the education sector.
As the protest concluded, the teachers reiterated their demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted educators and students. They warned that additional actions could be considered if authorities fail to secure the victims’ freedom and address persistent security threats facing schools across Nigeria.