By Sunday Oguntuyi, Osogbo
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Osun State has called on the Federal Government to secure the immediate release of all abducted Nigerians, including schoolchildren and their teachers, and intensify efforts to end insecurity across the country.
The call was made during a peaceful procession held in Osogbo on Thursday to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day celebration.
The procession, which featured members of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC), Take It Back Movement, Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, as well as various students’ union bodies, commenced at Ayetoro and passed through Igbonna, Olonkoro, Old Garage and Oke-Fia before terminating at the popular Olaiya Underbridge.
Similar protests were held in Abuja and other parts of the country, with notable activists, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and Omoyele Sowore, participating in the demonstrations.
Speaking during the event, the Convener of the Coalition Against Insecurity and Bad Governance, Mr. Kola Ibrahim, expressed concern over the increasing cases of school kidnappings, describing the trend as a major threat to the future of education in Nigeria.
He called on the Federal Government to ensure the immediate rescue and release of all abducted citizens, particularly schoolchildren and teachers currently held captive by kidnappers.
“We are demanding the release of all kidnapped and abducted Nigerians, especially our schoolchildren and their teachers. These children represent the future of Nigeria, and it is unacceptable that they remain in captivity,” Ibrahim said.
He lamented the state of education in the country, noting that Nigeria already has one of the highest numbers of out-of-school children globally.
“It is disturbing that while millions of children are already out of school, those who are fortunate enough to attend school are being kidnapped. This raises serious concerns about the future of education in Nigeria,” he added.
Ibrahim also questioned what he described as disparities in government response to kidnapping incidents, alleging that some cases receive faster attention than others.
He further called for accountability in the management of security funds, noting that substantial sums had been allocated to security at both federal and state levels without corresponding improvements in safety.
“In Osun State, billions of naira have been budgeted for security, yet the results are not evident. At the national level, the Federal Government has spent trillions on security, but insecurity remains a major challenge. We are demanding accountability for these expenditures,” he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Osun Civil Society Coalition, Comrade Waheed Lawal, urged the government to fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property.
According to him, citizens should not continue to live in fear while innocent people remain in the custody of kidnappers.
“The protection of lives and property is a constitutional obligation of government. We do not want to lose any more lives. The government must secure the release of all abductees, especially the children and teachers currently in captivity,” Lawal said.
He also expressed concern over the economic hardship facing Nigerians, attributing much of the suffering to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
“The level of inflation in the country is alarming. Nigerians deserve to enjoy the benefits of democracy. Government must be more proactive in addressing both security challenges and the welfare of citizens,” he stated.
Lawal further encouraged Nigerians to continue demanding accountability and good governance from elected leaders.
“As citizens, we must continue to stand up for our rights. We have the right to demand good governance, elect leaders who will serve our interests and reject policies that make life more difficult for the people,” he added.