A mother and her three children staged a peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday, demanding urgent action to address the growing wave of school abductions across Nigeria.
The family, dressed in school uniforms and carrying placards, gathered in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory to draw attention to the plight of kidnapped pupils and the fears many parents now face over the safety of their children.
In a video that has since gone viral on social media, the woman expressed concern over the increasing attacks on schools and the continued abduction of students in different parts of the country.
“I am afraid of taking my children to school because of what is happening. I am scared it is not safe,” she said.
The protest comes amid renewed public concern over recent kidnappings involving schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo and Borno states. It also follows the recent rescue of relatives of Adebayo Adelabu, former minister of power who were abducted while on their way to school in Ibadan.
The mother called on authorities to strengthen security around schools and intensify efforts to secure the release of children still being held by kidnappers.
The demonstration quickly attracted attention online, with many Nigerians describing the protest as a reflection of the growing anxiety among parents nationwide.
Reacting to the video, a social media user identified as RightKlick_G said no parent should have to worry about whether a child would return safely from school.
“The sight of that mother and her children in uniforms protesting for safety is heartbreaking but necessary. We need more than sympathy; we need concrete action to secure our schools,” the user wrote.
Another commenter, identified as thepsalmistt, suggested a broader nationwide protest involving schoolchildren to compel stronger government action against insecurity.
The protest coincided with fresh assurances from President Bola Tinubu that his administration would intensify efforts to combat terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country.
The Federal Government recently approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State as part of measures aimed at strengthening security and facilitating the rescue of abducted pupils and teachers.
Several states, including Kebbi, Gombe, Kwara, Kaduna, Edo, Imo, Bayelsa and Anambra, have also begun deploying forest guards under the Federal Government-backed security initiative.
