Oyo Teachers Protest After Attack as 7 Staff Confirmed Taken

IBADAN — Public school teachers in Oyo State staged a protest on Monday, May 18, demanding urgent government action after the Oriire school attack on Friday. The protest took place in several locations across the state, with teachers calling for better school security and justice for victims.

Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed on Sunday that seven teachers were abducted during the Oriire attack. One teacher was killed during the incident. Several suspects have been arrested by security agencies. Rescue operations are ongoing.

Makinde addressed residents on Sunday and expressed outrage at the attack. He said the government is doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of all victims. He also warned criminal elements that the state will not tolerate attacks on schools.

“We are working with the police, army, and other security agencies to get our teachers and children back safely. Whoever did this will face the full force of the law,” Makinde said.

Teachers Fear for Their Lives

However, teachers at the protest said words are not enough. They carried placards calling for armed guards at school gates and bulletproof vehicles for teachers in rural areas. Many said they are too afraid to return to their classrooms until security improves.

The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers also issued a statement. It said teachers in rural local government areas are working in dangerous conditions without any form of protection. The union called on the state government to allocate emergency security funds to schools.

In addition, Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, expressed dismay over the Oriire attacks. The group called on the federal and state governments to treat the kidnappings as a national emergency and deploy more resources to protect Yoruba communities.

National Outrage Grows

The Oriire attack has generated significant national anger. Viral videos of some of the victims pleading for rescue circulated on social media over the weekend. The Senate and Yoruba leaders have both demanded urgent government action.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan also spoke out. He said Nigeria has normalised violence to an alarming degree. He called on Nigerians to refuse to accept kidnapping as a routine occurrence.

Analysts say the Oriire attack reflects the spread of banditry from the northwest into the southwest. Oyo State has seen a rise in armed attacks on rural communities over the past two years. Security experts say the government must urgently address the intelligence and response gaps that allow these attacks to happen.