Bring Our Children Home Alive”: NAWOJ Abia Cries Out Over Oyo School Children’s Prolonged Captivity
The Abia State Chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has strongly condemned the kidnapping and prolonged captivity of schoolchildren in Oyo State, describing the development as heartbreaking, unacceptable, and a painful reflection of the worsening insecurity in the country.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the Chairperson of NAWOJ Abia State, Ambassador Norah Okafor, the association lamented the harrowing ordeal of the innocent children who have reportedly remained in captivity for over one week, stressing that their only “crime” was attending school in pursuit of education and a brighter future.
NAWOJ expressed deep concern over the emotional and psychological trauma the children, especially the girls, may be enduring in captivity, while condemning the reported killing of a teacher during the incident, describing it as a disturbing indication that the value of human life is increasingly under threat.
The association called on governments at all levels and security agencies to urgently intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue and safe return of the affected children, insisting that no parent should endure the agony of uncertainty over the fate of their child.
The body further urged women across all professions—including journalists, bankers, and other professionals—to rise in collective solidarity and lend their voices against the growing wave of insecurity threatening the future of Nigerian children.
“As mothers and defenders of humanity, we cannot remain silent while innocent children are held captive in forests, separated from their families and exposed to unimaginable suffering,” the statement noted.
In a symbolic show of grief and support for the victims and their families, NAWOJ Abia encouraged female journalists across the state to wear a touch of red until the children regain their freedom.
Reaffirming its position, the association declared that the continued abduction of schoolchildren must no longer be normalized in Nigeria.
“Enough is Enough,” NAWOJ stated, while demanding urgent action to safeguard the lives and future of Nigerian children.
