IBADAN, Nigeria (FN) — The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has declared a three-day fasting and prayer after the kidnapping of a school principal, teachers, and students in Oriire Local Government Area.
The attack, which took place in the early hours of May 15, left a teacher and a commuter dead, while several others were abducted from Yawota Basic School, Yawota Community High School, and Esinele Community High School. Among those taken were a principal, multiple teachers, and students.
In a statement dated May 17, State Secretary Salami B. Olukayode described the incident as a “deadly attack on schools” and urged teachers and well-wishers across the state to join daily noon prayer sessions during the three-day period. The directive was endorsed by State Chairman Hassan Ajibola Fatai and State Treasurer Titilolu Ibukunolu S.
The announcement quickly spread across social platforms, sparking mixed emotions. Teachers expressed solidarity but also frustration, with one post reading: “Prayers are good, but we need action. Our schools are not safe.” Parents voiced fear about sending children back to classrooms, with hashtags like #SafeSchoolsNow and #ProtectOurChildren trending locally. Others praised the union’s call for unity, saying collective prayers could strengthen morale in affected communities.
Oyo State officials pledged intensified rescue operations, with a spokesperson for the governor’s office saying security agencies were “working tirelessly to ensure the safe release of all abducted persons.” Lawmakers in the state assembly condemned the attack, urging the federal government to provide additional resources for rural school security. “We cannot allow classrooms to become hunting grounds for criminals,” one legislator said.
Education advocates and civil society groups criticized the reliance on spiritual measures alone. The Bring Back Our Girls coalition drew parallels to past mass abductions, warning that rural schools remain vulnerable. Stakeholders urged full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration, including fencing, surveillance, and armed guards for high-risk schools. Teacher associations in neighboring states expressed solidarity, calling the incident “a wake-up call for Nigeria’s education system.”
Kidnappings targeting schools have become increasingly common in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. The Oriire attack has reignited debate over how to balance cultural responses like fasting and prayer with concrete security reforms. For now, teachers across Oyo State are gathering at noon each day to pray for the safe release of their colleagues and students, even as families wait anxiously for updates from rescue operations.
