Oyo Teachers' Strike Enters Third Week as Governor Makinde Meets Families After Abductions

Gunmen kidnapped a group of teachers in Oyo State last month, triggering a strike that has now closed schools across the region for nearly three weeks. Governor Seyi Makinde met with the families of those taken on Tuesday, as negotiations with the captors continued behind closed doors in Ibadan.

Schools Shut as Teachers Refuse to Work

The Nigeria Union of Teachers announced the strike after armed men abducted three teachers from a primary school in the Surulere area of Oyo State. Parents in Ibadan, the state's capital, say they have no idea when their children will return to class. Local media reported that the union gave the state government a two-week ultimatum to secure the teachers' release before halting lessons entirely.

That deadline passed without a resolution. The strike has spread beyond the initial incident, with teachers in at least five local government areas joining the protest. Education officials in Oyo say they are working to resume classes, but union leaders insist nothing has changed until the kidnapped educators are freed.

Governor Makinde Meets the Families

Makinde traveled to Surulere on Tuesday to speak directly with relatives of the abducted teachers. Television footage from the visit showed him shaking hands with community leaders and listening to complaints from parents who said they felt abandoned by the state. The governor did not speak to reporters at the event, but his office released a statement confirming that security agencies were actively pursuing leads.

The meeting came after weeks of silence that frustratd the families. One mother told local reporters she had not slept properly since her husband was taken. She said she wanted the government to prioritise rescue over politics.

Security Response Under Scrutiny

The Oyo State Police Command said on Wednesday that officers had arrested two suspects linked to the abduction. A police spokesperson declined to share further details, citing the ongoing investigation. Security analysts in Lagos have questioned whether the police have the resources to handle kidnappings while also managing the broader strike action.

Community leaders in Surulere say armed patrols have increased in the area since the abduction, but they want permanent solutions rather than temporary shows of force. A local chief told Premium Times that criminals had previously targeted teachers in neighbouring states, and he warned that Oyo could face a long-term exodus of educators if the problem persisted.

Teachers' Union Demands Concrete Guarantees

The Nigeria Union of Teachers said it would not accept a return to work until it received written commitments on school safety. The union's state chairman called for the installation of security fences and alarm systems at every school in Oyo. He said the government had promised similar measures after a kidnapping in 2022, but those promises never materialised.

Parents across Ibadan say they are caught in the middle. They support the teachers' demands but worry their children will lose an entire term of learning. Some families have started arranging private lessons, but many cannot afford the extra cost.

Economic Toll on Communities

School closures are hitting local businesses that rely on student traffic. Vendors near primary schools in Ibadan say their daily sales have dropped by more than half since the strike began. A trader near one shuttered school said she had already sent two of her children to live with relatives in the countryside because she could not afford to keep them fed without her regular income.

The state government has not released an estimate of the economic impact. Education economists say prolonged strikes in Nigeria typically cost students dear in terms of learning outcomes, with the poorest families suffering the most.

What Happens Next

Negotiations between the government and the teachers' union are scheduled to resume in Ibadan on Thursday. Makinde's office said it expects a breakthrough before the end of the week, though union officials played down those expectations. The police investigation continues, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a ransom payment to secure the teachers' release.

Citizens in Oyo State should watch for a formal announcement from the governor's office by Friday. If the teachers remain captive and the strike drags on, the union has threatened to escalate protests to the state capital. For now, thousands of children in Oyo stay home, and their parents wait for answers.