By John Dike, Osogbo
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Osun State on Friday took to the streets of Osogbo to demand the immediate release of all kidnapped and abducted Nigerians, particularly schoolchildren kidnapped in Oyo state and their teachers,
The protesters called on the governments at all levels to account for billions of naira budgeted for security votes, demanded for accountability.
The peaceful procession, organised by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), Take It Back Movement, Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, and various Students’ Union bodies, drew scores of activists, students and concerned residents who marched through major parts of the Osun State capital to register their displeasure over the worsening state of insecurity in the country.
The protesters, carrying placards with various inscriptions condemning insecurity, kidnapping and poor governance, commenced the procession from Ayetoro area of Osogbo and moved through Igbonna, Olonkoro, Old Garage, Oke-Fia and Olaiya, attracting the attention of passersby and motorists.
Some of the placards bore messages such as “Release Our Children Now,” “Education Must Not Be Criminalised,” “Protect Nigerians, Protect Our Future,” and “Enough of Insecurity and Government Silence.”
The demonstrators expressed concern over the increasing spate of kidnappings across the country, especially incidents involving schoolchildren and teachers, describing the development as a dangerous threat to the future of education and national development.
Addressing journalists during the protest, Convener of the Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, Mr. Kola Ibrahim, said the objective of the rally was to draw the attention of government authorities to the plight of Nigerians currently being held captive by kidnappers and criminal gangs.
According to him, it is unacceptable that schoolchildren and teachers could remain in captivity for weeks while government officials continue to assure citizens that efforts are being made to tackle insecurity.
Ibrahim said the continued abduction of pupils, students and educational personnel sends a dangerous signal to parents and guardians, many of whom are already struggling with economic hardship and may become discouraged from sending their children to school.
“We are demanding the release of all kidnapped and abducted Nigerians, especially our schoolchildren who represent the future of this country and their teachers who are shaping that future,” he declared.
“It is incongruous that we are living in a country with one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children in the world and yet we cannot adequately secure the schools that are supposed to serve as centres of learning and development.
“If Nigeria already has about 19 million out-of-school children and those who are making efforts to attend school are now targets of kidnappers, what then is the future of education in this country?
“How do we encourage school enrollment when parents are constantly worried about the safety of their children? How do teachers perform effectively when they are unsure of their own security? These are serious questions that government must answer.”
The activist lamented that some of the abducted children are of very tender ages and have remained in captivity for an extended period without their freedom being secured.
He noted that reports indicating that children as young as two and seven years old are among those being held by kidnappers underscore the gravity of the nation’s security crisis.
“You can imagine children of two years old, seven years old and their teachers remaining in captivity for weeks. This should be unacceptable to every Nigerian and every responsible government.
“These children should be in classrooms learning and preparing for their future, not being subjected to trauma and uncertainty in the hands of criminals,” he said.
Ibrahim also alleged disparities in government response to kidnapping incidents, claiming that individuals with political influence or social connections often receive quicker intervention from security agencies than ordinary citizens.
According to him, every Nigerian life should be treated with equal importance regardless of social status, political affiliation or economic background.
He said, “We have seen situations where people connected to powerful individuals are rescued within a very short period, while ordinary Nigerians remain in captivity for weeks or even months.
“We are saying that every life matters. Government must demonstrate equal commitment to the rescue of all victims irrespective of who they are or where they come from.”
The activist further questioned the effectiveness of huge security allocations approved annually by governments at various levels, insisting that citizens deserve explanations on how such funds have been utilised.
He maintained that despite enormous investments in security infrastructure and operations, kidnapping, banditry and violent crimes continue to spread across different parts of the country.
“In Osun State, billions of naira have been budgeted for security-related expenditures over the years, yet many residents still feel unsafe.
“At the federal level, trillions of naira have reportedly been spent on security since the current administration came into office, but Nigerians are still battling kidnappings, killings and other violent crimes.
“We are demanding accountability. Government must tell Nigerians how these funds are being spent and what measurable outcomes have been achieved with the huge resources allocated to security.”
Also speaking during the procession, Chairman of the Osun Civil Society Coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal, stressed that the protection of lives and property remains one of the primary constitutional responsibilities of government.
Lawal said the increasing level of insecurity across the country suggests that more proactive and effective measures are required to safeguard citizens and restore public confidence.
“It is clearly stated in the Constitution that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Therefore, Nigerians have every right to demand protection and good governance.
“The reality today is that many citizens feel unsafe in their communities. We cannot continue to lose lives while those responsible for protecting the people fail to act decisively.”
He called on the Federal Government, security agencies and relevant authorities to intensify efforts aimed at securing the release of all abductees currently being held captive.
“We do not want to lose any more lives. We want immediate action. We want all abducted Nigerians released. The children and teachers currently in captivity should regain their freedom without delay,” he said.
Lawal also linked the security crisis to the broader socio-economic difficulties confronting Nigerians, noting that rising inflation and the high cost of living have compounded the suffering of citizens.
According to him, many Nigerians are struggling to survive amid increasing food prices, transportation costs and other economic pressures.
“The inflation rate in this country is becoming unbearable for ordinary people. Citizens are finding it increasingly difficult to meet basic needs.
“We want Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy. This is the longest uninterrupted democratic experience in our history, yet many people believe that their living conditions continue to deteriorate.”
The civil society leader urged government officials to adopt people-centred policies capable of addressing insecurity, unemployment, poverty and economic hardship simultaneously.
He maintained that democratic governance should translate into improved living standards and greater opportunities for citizens.
Lawal further encouraged Nigerians not to remain silent in the face of governance challenges, insisting that citizens have a constitutional right to demand accountability from elected leaders.
“As Nigerians, we must continue to stand up for our rights. It is our right to demand good governance. It is our right to demand security and welfare from those we elected into office.
“We also have the democratic right to support governments that perform and reject governments that fail to meet the expectations of the people,” he added.
The protesters concluded the procession by calling on the Federal Government to prioritise the safety of citizens, strengthen intelligence gathering, improve security operations and ensure that all kidnapped Nigerians are rescued unharmed.
They warned that unless urgent measures are taken to address the country’s growing insecurity, public confidence in government institutions and the nation’s educational system may continue to decline.
