NIGERIA: Abuja Mother, Children Stage Protest Over Rising School Abductions

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

A mother and her three children dressed in school uniforms staged a peaceful protest in the Maitama area of Abuja on Monday over the alarming surge in school abductions across the country.

The family stood by the roadside holding placards calling for the immediate rescue of kidnapped pupils as they voiced the fears of many Nigerian parents.

Video footage of the protest shared by ARISEtv on X attracted widespread reactions online.

The mother expressed deep concern about the safety of schools saying she is afraid of taking her children to school because of the prevailing insecurity. She appealed to the government to take urgent action to secure schools and ensure the safe release of all abducted children.

The symbolic protest comes amid continued public anxiety following recent abductions including the incident in Oyo State where over forty school children and teachers remain in captivity after the May 15 attack in Oriire Local Government Area as well as other cases in Borno State.

It also follows the recent rescue of the sister of a former Minister of Power and her twin sons who were abducted on their way to school.

Social media users reacted strongly to the video with many expressing heartbreak and demanding concrete government intervention.

One user noted that the sight of children protesting for their own safety is both heartbreaking and necessary while another suggested organising larger protests involving pupils to compel stronger security deployment.

Several others used the hashtag #BringBackOurSchoolChildren while calling on President Bola Tinubu to act decisively.

President Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to intensifying the fight against insecurity and securing the release of all abducted persons.

As part of efforts to address the crisis the federal government approved the recruitment of 1 000 forest guards in Oyo State while several other states including Kebbi Gombe Kwara Kaduna Edo Imo Bayelsa and Anambra have trained and deployed forest guards to tackle banditry and kidnapping in forested areas.

The protest highlights growing public frustration and the emotional toll of insecurity on families as parents continue to live in fear for the safety of their childre

n while seeking education.