Oyo State Faces Call for Mass Action Over Abducted Teachers, Pupils

The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights has urged labour unions in Oyo State to take immediate action by embarking on a statewide strike and mass protests. This call is in response to the abduction of teachers and pupils in the Oriire Local Government Area. According to the group, simply making public appeals will not be enough to secure the release of the abducted individuals. In a statement issued on May 31, 2026, and signed by Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye, the Oyo State Coordinator of the CDWR, the organisation expressed its deep concern over the abduction. However, it criticised the approach of the Oyo State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, stating that their reliance on appeals without concrete action is insufficient. The CDWR described the abductions as an attack on education and working-class communities, stating that the barbaric act is not just an attack on the direct victims but also on the entire working class and poor communities in Oyo State. The group has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress in Oyo State to convene an emergency meeting with the NUT and civil society organisations to organise a coordinated response. This response should include a 48-hour statewide strike across all schools, accompanied by mass protests and demonstrations. The CDWR also commended the Teachers Action Group for staging a protest in Ibadan on May 29 and has called for broader participation from workers, parents, students, and community groups in sustained mass action until the abducted victims are freed. The organisation stressed that no school is safe if one school is unsafe and that immediate industrial action is necessary to compel the authorities to act decisively.