Owolabi, S.S., PhD, arpa, anipr
‎02-06-2026

‎‎Few tragedies strike at the conscience of a society more deeply than the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers. While the nation goes about its daily routines, frightened children remain separated from their families, teachers are being held in captivity, and parents are trapped in a nightmare of anxiety, uncertainty, and emotional torment. At a time like this, our collective concern must rise above political affiliations and focus squarely on securing their safe return.
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‎This tragedy should serve as a stern test of the capacity and commitment of government at all levels. Citizens have a right to ask hard questions about the effectiveness of our security architecture and the urgency of the response to this crisis. Beyond official statements and expressions of concern, families want results. Every available intelligence, security, and rescue mechanism should be deployed with the seriousness that the situation demands. The protection of innocent lives is not a favour bestowed by government; it is its primary obligation.
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‎Equally troubling is the spectacle of political gladiators seeking advantage from the anguish of victims. When children are in the hands of abductors, partisan point-scoring becomes both insensitive and irresponsible. This is not the time to weaponise human suffering for political gain or to reduce a grave security challenge to party propaganda. Those who seek public trust and leadership should be offering solutions, demonstrating empathy, and demanding action rather than exchanging accusations.
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‎Citizens, too, must resist the temptation to view this tragedy through partisan lenses. The abducted children and teachers are not statistics, talking points, or instruments for political combat. They are human beings whose lives have been disrupted by a cruel act of criminality. Our collective voice should therefore be united around one demand: that every necessary effort be made to secure their immediate and safe release. Until that happens, neither government officials, political actors, nor the public should allow distractions to overshadow the human tragedy at the centre of this unfolding crisis.