A non-governmental organization, the Amazing Grace Children Rights Foundation (AGCRF), has condemned the escalating attacks on schools and the kidnapping of students, describing it as a dangerous trend that is jeopardizing the nation's future.
Foundation's Statement Ahead of Children's Day
Speaking ahead of the annual Children's Day celebration on May 27, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mrs. Grace Omoye Adeyemi, expressed deep concern that over 100 students have been kidnapped in May alone. She questioned why governments at all levels have not yet secured their release.
Recent Tragic Incidents
Mrs. Adeyemi highlighted several recent tragic events, including the abduction of 47 students and teachers from nursery, primary, and secondary schools in the Oriire Local Council of Oyo State on May 15. She also referenced a similar mass abduction of approximately 50 students in Borno State around the same period, as well as separate attacks on schools in Katsina and Zamfara states that resulted in the capture of numerous students and educators.
Impact on Children and Education
In a statement titled “Nigeria’s Future in Captivity,” Mrs. Adeyemi emphasized that the implications of this troubling trend extend far beyond the immediate trauma inflicted on the abducted children, their families, and teachers. She warned that the recurring violence is instilling deep fear in Nigerian children and educators, robbing them of the peace of mind needed to attend school.
Call for Government Action
She stated: “The government should not wait until the children of elites and notable public figures are kidnapped before providing adequate security in all schools and aggressively pursuing the release of those in captivity. As a mother, I am particularly pained to think of what these innocent children are going through at the hands of these mindless beasts.”
Urgent Appeal on Children's Day
The AGCRF is calling on the government to use the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day to decisively address the crisis, secure the immediate release of the captive children, and reassure the nation that it has not been overwhelmed by the insecurity threatening the country’s corporate existence. Mrs. Adeyemi also urged corporate organizations, Parents/Teachers Associations (PTAs), and civil society to collaborate in protecting Nigerian schools to safeguard the nation’s future.
