Entertainers and many Nigerians have reacted with grief and anger to the abduction of students and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as the country marks Children’s Day on Wednesday, May 27.
The attack which happened on May 15, affecting schools in Ogbomoso, is being condemned online, with many people questioning the state of security in the country and saying there was little reason to celebrate Children’s Day while children remain in captivity.
Among those who reacted was food content creator Diary of Kitchenlover, also known as Chef T. In a post shared on her Instagram story, she shared on her own experience as a mother.
“My daughter ran a temperature all night and I was restless. How will the parents of these innocent children feel every day? This makes absolutely no sense and there’s no point celebrating Children’s Day when we still have children in the forest helpless,” she wrote.
Health influencer Aproko Doctor also criticised the situation, saying Nigerians should not be celebrating Children’s Day under such circumstances.
Actresses Toyin Abraham, Funke Akindele and Destiny Etiko were among celebrities who shared messages calling for urgent government action and improved security for schoolchildren.
Toyin Abraham has described the incident as painful and personal because of her ties to Oyo State. She stated that no child should be afraid to attend school and urged authorities to act quickly to rescue those abducted.
Media personality Chude Jideonwo visited one of the affected schools in Ogbomoso and shared videos from a classroom where pupils were reportedly taken.
“These are the bags and school books of the students who were kidnapped. They were literally in the middle of class when the bandits came,” he said in a video posted online.
“You have to be here physically to understand the enormity of what Nigeria has allowed to happen to our children, the generational trauma. It is a disgrace and it is a tragedy.”
The incident reportedly involved attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Oriire LGA. According to reports, at least 45 pupils, alongside teachers and a principal, were abducted, while two people were killed during the attack.
Online, many Nigerians used the Children’s Day celebration to draw attention to the kidnapping.
“There is nothing ‘happy’ about Children’s Day in Nigeria this year,” one X user wrote.
Another user said, “Children’s Day should not only be about speeches and celebrations. It should be about protection, safety and accountability.”
Human rights advocate Chidi Odinkalu also criticised the federal government’s response, questioning the silence of national leaders over the abduction.
While many celebrities used Children’s Day to mourn the abducted pupils and demand action from authorities, actress Regina Daniels chose to continue with preparations for her annual Children’s Day carnival.
The actress shared behind-the-scenes videos from the event preparations on social media, showing family members and workers making food and setting up for the celebration.
In one of her posts, Regina Daniels wrote, “Somewhere inside every grown-up is a child hoping life never loses its colour.”
So far, the Defence Headquarters announced that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, had ordered the deployment of aerial surveillance assets and special forces to affected areas in Oyo State.
According to the military, operations are ongoing to track the perpetrators and restore security in the area.
At least 45 pupils, alongside teachers and a principal, were taken during the attack, while two people were killed, including a teacher.
