IBADAN, NIGERIA — The Oyo State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a fierce, urgent appeal to the Federal Government and security agencies, warning that “time is of the essence” to save dozens of school pupils and teachers currently languishing in captivity.
The union’s steering committee broke its silence on Saturday following the emergence of a heartbreaking new video released by terrorists. In the footage, the abducted Vice Principal of Community High School, Mrs. Alamu Folawe, is seen visibly distressed under harsh weather conditions, weeping and pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, and educational bodies to intervene before the captors carry out their deadly threats.
Two Weeks of Terror in Oriire
The crisis began on Friday, May 15, 2026, when heavily armed bandits riding motorcycles launched a coordinated, multi-target assault on three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State: Community High School and L.A. Basic School in Ahoro-Esinele, alongside First Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota.
During the initial attack, the terrorists shot sporadically, killing a teacher, Michael Oyedokun, and a commercial motorcyclist before dragging away approximately 46 victims into the dense forests bordering the Old Oyo National Park. A subsequent local rescue mission by vigilantes and hunters also turned tragic when volunteers ran into improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by the bandits, resulting in further casualties.
In a joint statement signed today by the Oyo NUT Chairman, Comrade Hassan Ajibola Fatai, and Secretary, Comrade Salami Olukayode, the union labeled the prolonged captivity and the psychological warfare deployed by the terrorists as “heartbreaking, barbaric, and entirely unacceptable.”
”No child or teacher deserves to endure such terror. Their prolonged stay in captivity is inflicting severe psychological pain on their families, the school community, and the entire teaching profession,” the statement read.
A Plea for Diplomacy and Kinetic Precision
While acknowledging the joint security efforts involving the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence Agro Rangers, and the Oyo State Amotekun Corps—who have reportedly cordoned off escape routes leading into Kwara State—the NUT stressed that current strategies must be accelerated.
With the kidnappers growing increasingly impatient, the NUT is urging the government to deploy a multi-pronged approach, explicitly requesting that authorities not rule out “serious diplomatic approaches” alongside intelligence-driven operations to extract the hostages safely.
The union’s call aligns with the desperate pleas made by Mrs. Alamu in the recent video, where she begged the government to utilize careful negotiation rather than brute force, fearing that a reckless kinetic assault could endanger the lives of the young children and educators used as human shields.
Collective Responsibility and School Safety
The NUT further appealed to local leaders, traditional rulers, and residents within the Ogbomoso and Oriire axes to actively assist law enforcement with actionable intelligence.
”We urge the authorities to intensify surveillance, strengthen community intelligence, and deploy all necessary operational resources,” the union executives stated. “We also call on local leaders and citizens to support security agencies with any credible information. The safety of our children and teachers must remain a collective priority.”
As tension mounts across the state, pressure is intensifying on the presidency. Earlier today, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) issued a strict 24-hour ultimatum to President Tinubu, demanding the immediate deployment of tactical assets to secure freedom for the victims.
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The Oyo NUT concluded its brief by standing in firm solidarity with the traumatized families, reiterating its foundational goal to ensure that schools across the state remain safe havens for learning, rather than battlegrounds for terror.
