The Youth Advocate for Change has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to take immediate action to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers who were abducted in Oyo State over two weeks ago.
Adeola Ogunlade, team lead of the group, raised concerns over the continued captivity of schoolchildren and teachers while warning against attempts by politicians and other stakeholders to play politics with an issue that directly affects the lives and future of innocent children.
Ogunlade questioned the circumstances surrounding the abduction, describing the situation as a national emergency requiring immediate and coordinated intervention.
He noted that Nigeria continues to face significant challenges in the education sector, including a high number of out-of-school children, inadequate infrastructure, poverty, displacement, and limited access to learning resources.
“Schools are meant to be safe spaces for learning, growth, and development, not places of fear and uncertainty.
“The recurring cases of kidnapping involving schoolchildren and teachers have become a national emergency that requires urgent and decisive action. While we commend the federal government’s commitment to reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, such efforts may be undermined if schools remain unsafe. Parents will naturally be reluctant to send their children to school when they fear for their safety,” Ogunlade said.
He cited past incidents of displacement in communities such as Makoko, noting that such events have previously disrupted education and contributed to school dropouts.
He also urged the federal government to strengthen the Safe Schools Initiative and ensure better protection for schools, particularly in vulnerable communities.
Ogunlade called on security agencies, government institutions, and community leaders to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted victims.
“Education remains the foundation of national development,” he added, warning that continued attacks on schools threaten the country’s future stability and growth.
He emphasized that the situation requires collective action rather than political division, urging stakeholders to prioritise the safety and welfare of the affected children and teachers.
“We urge security agencies, governments at all levels, community leaders, and all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts toward securing the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted children and their teachers.
“This is not the time for political point-scoring. It is a time for collective action, responsibility, and compassion. The lives, future, and dreams of these children must remain our highest priority,” Ogunlade said.
