The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has called for an indefinite strike starting Monday in Oyo State, to protest the abduction in mid-May of dozens of children and their teachers.
On May 15, armed men, whom the Nigerian army accused of being Boko Haram jihadists, abducted students and staff from three schools in Oyo State, in the southwest of the country.
Kidnappings for ransom are a constant struggle for authorities in northern Nigeria, but these mass abductions were unusual for Oyo, one of the country's most populous states. Seven teachers were kidnapped along with between 25 and 39 children aged between 2 and 16, authorities said.
The search continues for them. The NUT has urged primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State "to cease work in schools" from Monday "until further notice" .
The union stated that the strike was intended to protest "the prolonged detention of our colleagues and students by the kidnappers, with no clear sign of a swift rescue and safe release."
