Activists and civil society organizations have criticized the Federal Government for failing to deploy state-of-the-art surveillance technology to rescue 81 Nigerian schoolchildren still held by terrorists. The groups argued that the government uses similar resources to track ordinary citizens but hesitates when it comes to saving abducted children.
Government Condemned Over Inaction
The CSOs condemned the government for the prolonged captivity of the children, stating that any administration unable to protect its children has failed in its primary duty. In a statement released after the 2026 Children's Day celebration, the groups lamented that while Nigeria marked the annual event meant to celebrate children and reflect on their future, dozens of pupils remained in captivity with little evidence of urgent government action to secure their release.
“On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, was Children’s Day in Nigeria, an annual holiday to celebrate Nigeria’s children and reflect on government’s efforts to build a thriving future for the new generation,” the statement read. “Alas, as we marked this year’s celebration, nothing less than 81 Nigerian school children are languishing in captivity.”
Details of Abductions
The statement highlighted two major incidents. First, 39 primary and secondary school pupils along with seven teachers were abducted by terrorists from their schools in Oyo State. One of the teachers, Mr. Oyedokun Olugbade, was beheaded a few days ago. Second, another 42 children were abducted on May 15, 2026, by suspected Boko Haram militants during an attack on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“It is only right on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration that we ask President Bola Tinubu: Where are our abducted children? Why have they not been found?” the groups demanded.
Criticism of Government Response
The activists accused the government of complacency, noting that since the abductions, both federal and state authorities have mostly carried on with business as usual, offering only platitudinous statements of assurance while doing little to rescue the children. They pointed out that Nigeria’s government and security agencies possess the technological capacity to locate anyone within the nation’s territory, as evidenced by their surveillance of civil society activists.
“The question therefore is: why is this state-of-the-art surveillance technology not being deployed to rescue our children?” the statement asked. “Why is President Tinubu unable to deploy the same firepower and reconnaissance capacity that he so effortlessly deployed in December last year to thwart, on behalf of France, a coup against former President Talon of the Republic of Benin?”
The groups compared President Tinubu’s handling of the crisis to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s response to the 2014 Chibok girls abduction, describing both as clueless. They criticized Tinubu, his ministers, and National Assembly members for participating in party primaries while over 81 children remain in terrorist dens.
“While elections are undeniably important, the safety of the lives of average Nigerians and their welfare are more important. A government unable to guarantee this is a failed government. Such a government has no moral authority to ask citizens to vote for it at the next election,” the statement declared.
Call for Nationwide Protests
The groups called on Nigerians, organized labour, youths, and civil society organizations to embark on peaceful nationwide protests to demand the rescue of all abducted Nigerians and improved security across the country. The statement was jointly issued by rapper and activist Falz (Folarin Falana); Hassan Soweto of the Organising Committee, #EndBadGovernanceMovement, Lagos State; Mike Igaga, Executive Director; Moses Oisakede, among others.
