Activists Condemn Government as 81 Abducted Nigerian Children Remain in Captivity

Civil society groups and rights activists have slammed the Federal Government over the continued detention of 81 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren by terrorists, saying the inability to protect children reflects a failure of governance.

The groups made their position known in a statement released after Nigeria’s 2026 Children’s Day celebration, expressing concern that dozens of schoolchildren are still being held captive despite repeated assurances from authorities.

“Alas, as we marked this year’s celebration, nothing less than 81 Nigerian school children are languishing in captivity,” the statement said.

According to the groups, 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted by terrorists from schools in Oyo State, while another 42 children were kidnapped on May 15 during an attack by suspected Boko Haram fighters on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The statement also revealed that one of the abducted teachers from Oyo State, Mr. Oyedokun Olugbade, was recently killed.

The organisations questioned President Bola Tinubu’s response to the crisis, asking: “Where are our abducted children? Why have they not been found?”

They accused both federal and state governments of failing to act decisively, alleging that officials had largely continued “business as usual” while the children remained in terrorists’ camps.

The activists argued that Nigerian security agencies possess advanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities that could be deployed to locate and rescue the victims.

“The question therefore is: why is this state-of-the-art surveillance technology not being deployed to rescue our children?” the statement asked.

The groups further compared the current administration’s response to the Chibok abduction crisis under former President Goodluck Jonathan, describing the government as “clueless” in tackling worsening insecurity.

“It is the same nonchalance and lack of concern of the Jonathan years that we see today,” the statement added.

The coalition insisted that the safety and welfare of citizens should take precedence over politics and elections, warning that any government unable to guarantee security loses its moral authority to seek re-election.

The groups also urged Nigerians, organised labour, youth groups, and civil society organisations to embark on peaceful nationwide protests demanding the rescue of abducted persons and stronger security measures across the country.

Among the signatories to the statement were rapper and activist Falz (Folarin Falana), Hassan Soweto, Mike Igaga, Moses Oisakede, Rufus Olusesan, Segun Oladunni, Jonathan Ugbal, Richard Inoyo, Omole Ibukun, Adaramoye Michael, Abdullah Bilal, and other civic leaders.

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