•Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State
Private schools have been shut across Oyo in solidarity over abducted pupils and teachers.
The closure was coordinated by the Coalition of Private Schools in Oyo State, which also organised a special prayer session for the safe return of the abductees, reports The Guardian.
The coalition comprises the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Association of Model Islamic Schools (AMIS), Association of Private Academic Schools (APAPS), Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), League of Muslim School Proprietors (LEAMSP), Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Association of Arabic and Islamic Schools (AAIS), and the Joint Christian Education Council (JCEC).
Checks across several private schools in Ibadan showed that classrooms remained locked, with no academic activities taking place.
Sources within the coalition disclosed that notices had earlier been sent to parents, guardians and other stakeholders informing them of the temporary closure, a move said to have received widespread support.
The coalition said the shutdown was intended not only to demonstrate solidarity with the abducted pupils, students and teachers but also to draw attention to the growing insecurity confronting educational institutions.
As part of the activities, members participated in an online prayer session attended by school proprietors, teachers, students, parents and other stakeholders. Participants offered prayers for the safe release of the victims, peace in Oyo State and improved security across the country.
It was not immediately clear whether the closure would extend beyond today.
Public schools across the state have remained shut for about a week following the abduction, with only candidates participating in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) allowed access to examination halls.
The closure of public schools has been accompanied by a series of protests by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State and beyond.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also staged demonstrations, demanding the immediate release of the abducted children and their teachers.
