Obi calls for release of abducted Oyo schoolchildren, condemns rising insecurity

Crime Diary

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has appealed to the abductors of schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped in Oyo State to release them, describing their continued captivity as a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security situation.

In a statement titled “Please Release These Children for the Sake of Our Shared Humanity,” Obi said he was heartbroken after seeing a video showing the condition of the abducted children.

According to him, the footage revealed signs of abuse and suffering, underscoring the urgent need for their immediate release.

“I am broken and shocked by the condition these abducted schoolchildren are in, as seen from their battered bodies in the video,” Obi said.

He described the incident as a painful reminder of the consequences of poor governance and the failure to address insecurity over the years.“I have always made it clear that the society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor made a direct appeal to the abductors, urging them to consider the humanity and innocence of the children.

“To those holding these children, I appeal to your conscience. These are innocent children whose families have invested their hopes, dreams and future in them,” he said.

“No grievance, hardship or justification can outweigh the sanctity of a child’s life and innocence. I appeal to your sense of mercy to release them immediately and reunite them with their families.”

Obi also expressed concern over what he described as the deteriorating security situation across the country, citing recent attacks and kidnappings in Plateau, Kogi, Anambra, Oyo and Borno states.

He noted that more than two weeks had passed since dozens of schoolchildren and teachers were abducted in Oyo and Borno states, yet they remained in captivity.

According to him, the continued detention of the victims highlights the urgent need for more decisive action by authorities.

The former governor referenced the abduction of students and teachers from schools in the Ahoro-Esinle Community of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where dozens of pupils, teachers and a school principal were kidnapped.

He also recalled the abduction of scores of nursery, primary and secondary school pupils in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.

Obi lamented that while insecurity continues to threaten lives across the country, political actors remain preoccupied with electoral calculations ahead of future elections. “Meanwhile, amid all these tragic developments, we politicians remain consumed by the next election, paying far more attention to political ambitions than to the safety and well-being of our children and fellow citizens,” he said.

He warned that the continued targeting of schoolchildren in a country not officially at war represents a serious national emergency requiring urgent attention. “In a nation that is not at war, the ongoing insecurity that endangers schoolchildren signifies a profound and serious challenge,” Obi said.