The school kidnappings crisis in Nigeria has prompted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to threaten a nationwide solidarity strike if authorities fail to address the growing wave of abductions targeting schools. The labour movement expressed concern over the increasing attacks on educational institutions, particularly the recent abduction of pupils and teachers in Oyo State. NLC President Joe Ajaero warned that the continued failure to protect schools could force organised labour to mobilise workers across the country. The threat comes amid growing national outrage over the worsening school kidnappings crisis and its impact on education and public safety.
The warning follows the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that has sparked protests and industrial actions within the education sector. According to the Nigeria Labour Congress, armed gangs abducted about 39 pupils and seven teachers from Community High School, L.A. Basic School, Ahoro Esinele, and First Baptist School, Yawota. The labour centre described the incident as one of the most disturbing attacks on education in recent times.
The development also prompted the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to direct public school teachers in Oyo State to embark on an indefinite strike while ordering solidarity rallies across the country. Teachers in several states have since staged demonstrations demanding stronger protection for schools and the immediate release of abducted learners and educators.
The NLC said the repeated attacks indicate a broader national security challenge that requires urgent and decisive intervention.
In a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the labour movement condemned the increasing attacks on schools and warned that Nigeria’s future was under threat.
Ajaero said: “For too long we have watched our schools become hunting grounds. This is not just an attack on families; it is an assault on the future of our nation.”
The NLC noted that the recent Oyo abductions exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s security architecture. According to the labour centre, security operatives and local vigilantes who pursued the kidnappers were reportedly repelled by improvised explosive devices and the use of children as human shields. The congress warned that the school kidnappings crisis could undermine public confidence in government institutions if urgent action is not taken.
Ajaero further stated that Nigerians could no longer accept routine condolences and assurances without measurable results.
The labour organisation demanded: immediate and well-funded rescue operations, improved intelligence gathering and sharing, stronger rapid-response security teams, enhanced protection for schools nationwide, prosecution of individuals financing kidnapping activities.
The NLC warned that failure to achieve tangible progress could lead to broader labour actions, including a nationwide solidarity strike.
The growing school kidnappings crisis has intensified concerns about the safety of learners and teachers across Nigeria. Education stakeholders warn that repeated attacks could discourage school attendance, increase dropout rates, and worsen the country’s existing education challenges. Recent protests by teachers, labour groups, and students across multiple states highlight the growing anxiety surrounding the safety of schools.
Security experts have also cautioned that attacks on educational institutions could create long-term social and economic consequences if left unchecked. For organised labour, the protection of schools has now become a national issue requiring urgent government intervention.
