The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has confirmed and raised an urgent alarm over the abduction of Mr. Owoade Matthew Kolawale, the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School in Igbojaye, Itesiwaju Local Government Area.
The union is calling for an immediate and swift rescue operation to secure his unconditional release safely.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Hassan Ajibola Fatai, and the State Secretary, Comrade Salami Olukayode.
Available information indicated that the victim, widely known in his local community as “Onaiye”, was abducted on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m..
According to the victim’s son, Mr Abiola Owoade, his father was returning from a visit to his farm when he was intercepted and abducted by the armed assailants.
Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly contacted the family using the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of thirty million naira (N30,000,000) for his release.
Reacting, the NUT said the incident was brought to the attention of the state leadership by the Itesiwaju Local Government branch of the union through an urgent notice issued to its members.
The union described the development as disturbing and another reminder of the growing security challenges facing teachers and education workers across the country.
The NUT leadership called on government, security agencies, and relevant authorities to intensify efforts towards securing the immediate rescue of the abducted headmaster and ensuring the safety of teachers and all citizens within the communities and their workplaces.
While expressing solidarity with the family, colleagues, and pupils of the victim, the union prayed for his safe return and urged members to remain vigilant.
The union prayed that God would protect citizens from insecurity and grant the abducted headmaster a quick and safe return.
Confirming the incident earlier, the spokesperson for the Oyo State Police Command, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said, “I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mr Owoade Mathew, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unhurt and arrest the perpetrator.”