President Bola Tinubu has issued a reassuring message to the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states, declaring that they have not been forgotten and promising that his administration will ramp up operations to secure their safe release.
The President’s assurance came via a personally signed Children’s Day statement dated May 27, 2026. This comes at a time of heightened public anxiety following recent violent incursions into educational institutions across the nation.
In his address, President Tinubu acknowledged the deep grief of the affected families, highlighting the painful contrast of the tragedy coinciding with the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.
“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. 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,” the President said.
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“To the families grieving and despondent, your government will not turn your pain into ceremony. 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,” he added.
To ensure their rescue, the President revealed that he has instructed all relevant security agencies to intensify and maintain coordinated operations aimed at freeing the kidnapped children and other vulnerable citizens. He emphasized that these operations must be intelligence-led, carefully executed, and completely focused on the safe recovery of the victims.
“I have also directed the strengthening of school protection measures in high-risk areas. 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,” Tinubu said.
Reflecting on this year’s Children’s Day theme, “Future Now: Promoting Inclusion for Every Nigerian Child,” the President noted that it serves as a direct appeal to the country’s collective conscience and its responsibility to protect younger generations.
“On this Children’s Day, I celebrate every Nigerian child. I celebrate the child who is excelling in school. I celebrate the child who is learning a trade. I celebrate the child living with disability and still pressing forward with courage. I celebrate the child who has lost much but has not lost hope.
“Today belongs to you. It is a day to celebrate your innocence, your strength, your creativity, your aspirations, and the immeasurable value you bring to our nation.
You are the pride of our Republic, the custodians of tomorrow’s promise, and the living reminder that we can shape the future of Nigeria by the opportunities we create for our children today,” Tinubu stated.
Furthermore, President Tinubu explained that the Federal Ministry of Education and state governments are collaborating to strengthen the Safe Schools framework, enhancing emergency preparedness in vulnerable areas. He stressed that schools in volatile locations must establish definitive response protocols and direct communication lines with security forces.
“We will also improve support for children who have survived abduction, violence, and displacement. 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.
“I have directed the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that recovered children receive proper reintegration support, not temporary attention.
“Let me also state that protecting children cannot be left solely to the government. Parents, teachers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, youth groups, transport unions, local vigilantes, and the media all have a role to play,” he stated.
“When a community sees strange movement around a school and keeps quiet, a child is placed at risk. When warning signs are ignored, families suffer. When information is shared quickly and responsibly, lives can be saved.
“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,” he added.
Reaffirming his administration’s long-term vision, Tinubu reiterated his dedication to providing every Nigerian child with safety, healthcare, education, nutrition, and equal opportunities.
“My administration remains committed to a Nigeria where every child can learn safely, grow in good health, eat well, access opportunity, and dream without fear. We are investing in education, health care, nutrition, social protection, digital skills, and safer communities because childhood must not be a privilege reserved for a few. It is the right of every Nigerian child.
“To our children, you matter, your dreams matter; your safety matters. Your education matters. Be assured that your future matters to this government and to this nation, and we will safeguard it,” the President added.
The urgency behind the President’s message is fueled by the recent wave of school invasions in Oyo and Borno states by suspected terrorists, which has left citizens deeply worried about student and staff safety nationwide.
In Oyo State, gunmen stormed Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele on May 15, 2026, abducting a school principal, several teachers, and dozens of students.
During the raid, one teacher was shot dead, and subsequent reports indicated that another abducted teacher was tragically beheaded by the captors. This brutal assault triggered protests by teachers in Ogbomoso, who demanded swift and decisive security upgrades around schools.
Simultaneously on May 15, armed bandits launched a separate assault in Borno State, abducting students from Mussa Primary School and Junior Day Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
This incident has raised fears of a resurgence of mass student kidnappings in the North-East, a region where educational institutions have historically been targeted by insurgent factions.
In a swift reaction to these events, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) condemned the attacks as “barbaric and inhuman.” The union cautioned that if these assaults on educational institutions persist, teachers across the federation might be forced to withdraw their services. The NUT added that the ongoing violence has inflicted profound fear, panic, and emotional trauma on educators, students, parents, and entire communities.
