The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) called a strike from Monday in Oyo state to protest the kidnapping of dozens of children and their teachers in the Southwest Nigerian state.
The kidnapping on May 15 blamed on gunmen believed to be Boko Haram jihadists. Seven teachers were kidnapped along with between 25 and 39 children aged two to 16, officials said.
While search is still ongoing to find them the NUT has called on primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State “to withdraw our services from schools” from Monday “till further notice”.
The union said the strike was in protest “against the continued detention of our colleagues and learners by the abductors without any clear sign of their timeous rescue and safe release”.
CliqMetro reports that gunmen simultaneously raided Baptist Nursery and Primary in the community of Yawota, and two other schools in Esiele, in what police said was a “coordinated attack”.
While the Christian Association of Nigeria said 39 children and seven teachers were abducted from the schools, the state governor Seyi Makinde said 25 pupils and seven teachers were taken.