President Bola Tinubu has urged parents of schoolchildren recently abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo state, and Borno to keep hope alive, assuring them that the victims will soon be rescued.
On May 15, suspected terrorists attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all in Oriire LGA of Oyo state.
The Oyo police command said two people were killed during the attack while about 45 schoolchildren, a principal and teachers were reportedly abducted.
According to Reuters, suspected terrorists also abducted dozens of students from a school in Mussa village, Askira/Uba LGA of Borno state on the same day.
Residents said the insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School at about 9am on May 15 while classes were ongoing, abducting several students.
‘You Are Not Forgotten’
Meanwhile, in a statement on Wednesday to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day, Tinubu appealed to the affected families not to lose hope, saying the federal government would continue working until all abducted children are rescued safely.
“As we mark this special day, which coincides with Eid-el-Kabir, some Nigerian children and their teachers in Oyo and Borno should be with their families, but are being held captive by criminals,” the president said.
“Some children have been forced into fear. Some parents cannot join today’s celebration because their hearts are set on one prayer: ‘Bring our children home.”
“To those children, their parents, and their teachers, I say this as a father and your President: you are not forgotten. You are not abandoned.”
Tinubu said his administration would not treat the pain of the affected families as mere ceremony, assuring that security agencies had been directed to intensify rescue operations across the country.
“To the families grieving and despondent, your government will not turn your pain into ceremony,” the president said.
“We will continue to work until children taken from their homes, schools and communities are returned safely, and until those who profit from this cruelty are brought to justice.”
“I have directed all relevant security agencies to sustain and intensify coordinated rescue operations for abducted children and other vulnerable citizens across the country.
“These operations must be intelligence-led, carefully executed and focused on the safe recovery of our children.”
The president also said he had ordered the strengthening of school protection measures in high-risk areas through improved coordination between governments, security agencies and local communities.
” This will include updated school vulnerability mapping, closer coordination between state governments and security commands, rapid response links between schools and local security units, and stronger community-based early warning systems,” he said.
Tinubu added that children rescued from abduction and violence would receive adequate care, counselling and reintegration support from the government.
“Rescue is not the end of the government’s duty. A child who returns from trauma must return to care, medical attention, counselling, education and dignity,” he added.
The president urged parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community members to work closely with security agencies to protect children and prevent attacks on schools.
“This is why we will continue to strengthen the link between communities and security agencies. The fight to protect children must begin before an attack happens, not after one has already occurred,” Tinubu said.
