Insecurity and Inequality: The abduction of oyo school children and crisis of government in Nigeria -By Oyibo Mercy

This article discusses the high rate of insecurity, the disparity in government response, the impact on victims and society and the urgent need for reform. This high rate of banditry is one of the most disturbing security challenges in Nigeria today.

At oriri local government area of oyo state in the Ogbosho axis,on Friday,15 may 2026, 44 children and their teachers were kidnapped by bandit,up till this moment, they are not been rescued. However,on June 3,2026,in Ibadan oyo state, the Nigeria police force had successfully rescued olaide busayo Adegoke and her twelve years old twins. What about the children and their teachers that are still in captivity? This means the decision is not driven by what is right. It’s driven by who is connected.

Children and their teachers suffering in captivity, without shelters and inadequate sleep, begging the government to rescue them. Relatives of the victims are also in distressed, living like “living corpse”, appealing to the government to rescue their loved ones.

Thursday, June 4th, 2026, their virals claims that one of the abducted schools children had died in captivity, However, the Oyo state police command officially debunked the claim on Friday, June 5th, 2026, confirming that the report was completely false and malicious fabrications. This situation raises serious questions on the ability of security agencies, having a way to communicate with the bandits, but is so hard for them to track their location, and rescue the victims in captivity. Consider the pain of the little girl parents, especially her mother, the moment she the news or had about the news, how grief and unimaginable experience she would been through, thinking that she failed has a mother. Is it the fault of the parents for sending their children to the school or is it the fault of the teachers for going out to work to earn their daily breads?

The principal of the affected school appeals to the government, to negotiate with the bandits, for them to be released. Imagine bandits requesting for four things before they will release the victims. However, the bandits claims that the report was just mere rumors. Is it that the government have turned the lives of the Oyo abducted to politics matter?

Within two days government was able to rescued a ex–power Minister Adelebu younger sister with her twins sons. However, was unabled to recued the children and their teachers was in captivity for over a month now. However, government is claiming that the issue are two different cases.

If we are to ask the causes of insecurity in Nigeria, some will say is poverty. To be sincere does poverty justify the pistol in the hands of the bandits or does poverty justify the weapons they used to carry out their crimes?

Many schools in Nigeria have closed down,due to the issue of insecurity,low numbers of attendance in school because parents stopped sending their children to the school. Won’t the rate of illiterate in Nigeria continue to rise?

when insecurity started, we’re warned not to travel late at night and early morning travel. However children are now being kidnapped in the schools. If we are told to stop going to school,how can be sure the same criminals won’t break into our home? How can we truly be safe because home also is not longer safe.

Social media influencer, Martins Vincent otse, popularly known as Very Darkman(VDM),led a protest in Ibadan, demanding the urgent action to rescue the victims. Government says that the demonstration was aimed for him to gain attention and was just worsening insecurity situation. Is it because their children school outside Nigeria,That’s why they are not serious about the issue?

A journalist asked president Bola Ahmed Tinubu about the mounting insecurity in the country today,he launched into an attack on lawlessness and said the sacrifice, the slaughtering of a ram represented a greater importance of human life than animals. What concerns insecurity with sacrifice, slaughtering of Ram. This is to inform us that nothing is of more important to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu than winning the 2027 election. What is the life of hundred, thousands,even millions of Nigeria,if that is what the bandits want, as far as he wins the upcoming election of 2027.

Late former Nigeria military head of state, general Sani Abacha stated that,”if an insurgency last more than 24hours, the government has hands in it”. It is high time we asked the government and all the people in power about the issue of insecurity in the country.

The country we call our home is now filled with fear, pain, and sorrow. The government have turned security into favourism, they saved who has connection with them and make the rest citizens to fight for their selves. The government has make us to believe that life is not about what you know but who you know. All the promises are being fulfilled inside the paper.Insecurity and Inequality has become a serious issues in Nigeria. It has affected education,many businesses, and daily lives of people.

Growing up,we are told that a home is a safe place but can we still call Nigeria our home? Is Nigeria still safe for us?