By Paul Joseph
As Nigeria marked this year’s Children’s Day on Wednesday, many citizens used the occasion to demand urgent government action over the growing cases of child abduction and insecurity across the country rather than celebrate.
The outrage followed the recent abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15, barely days before the Children’s Day celebration.
Several Nigerians, including former Minister of Education Obiageli Ezekwesili and media personality Enioluwa Adeoluwa, took to social media to express anger, grief and concern over the safety of children in the country.
Ezekwesili, in an open letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu, state governors and members of the National Assembly, criticised political leaders for what she described as empty rhetoric while thousands of children remain unsafe.
According to her, leaders should refrain from making ceremonial Children’s Day statements while many children continue to suffer from kidnapping, poverty, hunger and lack of access to education.
She stated that government officials had failed millions of Nigerian children, including victims of several school abductions recorded since the Chibok incident.
Ezekwesili noted that thousands of students had been kidnapped in recent years, while millions of children remain out of school due to insecurity, poverty and other social challenges.
The former minister also condemned worsening child welfare conditions in the country, citing malnutrition, poor healthcare, illiteracy and displacement caused by demolitions and violence.
Her comments sparked widespread reactions online.
Broadcaster Oseni Rufai lamented that children were spending Children’s Day in kidnappers’ camps instead of celebrating safely with their families.
Enioluwa, in his reaction, dedicated the day to abducted children and those living in fear due to insecurity, stressing that classrooms should be places of hope and learning rather than terror.
He said Nigerian children deserved safety, care and protection from the government and society.
Another social media user identified as Nnaemeka condemned what he described as hypocrisy in celebrating children while many parents continued searching for missing sons and daughters.
A medical doctor and commentator, Dipo Awojide, also sympathised with affected families and urged the Nigerian military to intensify operations against kidnappers and terrorists.
Other Nigerians on social media offered prayers for the safe return of abducted children and called for stronger security measures to protect schools and communities across the country.
The renewed calls came amid growing concerns over repeated attacks on schools and increasing insecurity affecting children in different parts of Nigeria.
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