Peter Obi has appealed directly to the abductors of schoolchildren in Oyo State, urging them to release the victims immediately and warning that “the society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow.”
The 2023 presidential candidate expressed shock and heartbreak over the condition of the abducted children.
He described their suffering as “a painful reminder of the depth of insecurity in our land.”
“I have always made it clear that the society we abuse today will take its revenge on our children tomorrow,” Obi said in a statement released today.
“When I first began making that statement, some of these children were not even born. This is a classic example of how the abuse of governance and society today can produce devastating consequences long after the abusers are gone.”
Obi drew a parallel between the current security crisis and Nigeria’s mounting debt burden, warning that both represent a dangerous legacy left to future generations.
“It is on the same line that I argue that the loans our leaders take today will hurt our children in the future, as many of them will mature for repayment and consequences long after we are gone,” he stated.
The former Anambra governor directly addressed the abductors, appealing to their conscience and sense of mercy.
“Remember that these are innocent children – sons and daughters of people who have placed their hopes, dreams, and entire future in them. In every one of them, you will find reflections of your own children, your own family, and your own humanity,” Obi said.
He insisted that no grievance or hardship could justify holding children captive.
“Whatever path has led to this moment, there is still room for remorse, for humanity, and for a change of heart,” Obi added.
He concluded with a direct plea to the kidnappers: “Release these children immediately. Let them go. Return them safely to society to reunite with their families.”
The appeal comes amid growing national outrage over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states.
On May 15, gunmen attacked three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, kidnapping 39 students and seven teachers, while another 42 students were abducted the same day in Borno State . As of today, the victims have spent over two weeks in captivity .
The situation has sparked nationwide protests by the Nigeria Union of Teachers and civil society groups demanding the immediate release of the abducted victims.
President Bola Tinubu has since dispatched a high-level delegation, including his Chief of Staff and the National Security Adviser, to Oyo State, where officials described the abduction of a two-year-old child as “nothing but evil” .
Security agencies in Oyo State have launched rescue operations, but the victims remain in captivity .
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