Activists and civil society organisations have questioned why the Federal Government cannot deploy the same resources it uses to track ordinary citizens in the fight against terrorism.
The CSOs condemned the continued captivity of 81 Nigerian schoolchildren abducted by terrorists, declaring that any government unable to protect children has failed in its primary responsibility.
In a statement issued after the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, the groups lamented that while Nigeria marked the annual event meant to celebrate children and reflect on their future, dozens of pupils remained in captivity with little sign of urgent government action to secure their release.
The statement read:
“Wednesday, May 27, 2026, was Children’s Day in Nigeria, an annual holiday set aside to celebrate Nigerian children and reflect on the government’s efforts to build a thriving future for the new generation.
“Sadly, as we marked this year’s celebration, no fewer than 81 Nigerian schoolchildren are languishing in captivity.
“This includes 39 primary and secondary school pupils, alongside seven teachers, who were abducted by terrorists from their schools in Oyo State. One of the teachers, Mr Oyedokun Olugbade, was beheaded a few days ago.
“Similarly, another 42 children were abducted on May 15, 2026, by suspected Boko Haram militants during an attack on Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
“It is only right, on the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day celebration, that we ask President Bola Tinubu: Where are our abducted children? Why have they not been found?
“Sadly, since the tragic abductions, Nigeria’s government, both at the federal and state levels, has largely carried on with business as usual, occasionally offering platitudinous assurances while doing little to secure the release of our beloved children.
“We say this because we know quite well, from our experience as civil society activists who have regularly been subjected to hostile surveillance, that Nigeria’s government and its security agencies possess the capacity to locate anyone within the country.
“The question, therefore, is: why is this state-of-the-art surveillance technology not being deployed to rescue our children?
“Why is President Tinubu unable to deploy the same firepower and reconnaissance capacity that he reportedly deployed in December last year to thwart, on behalf of France, a coup against former President Talon of the Republic of Benin?
“Unfortunately, the government has no coherent answer. Just as former President Goodluck Jonathan appeared overwhelmed during the 2014 Chibok girls’ abduction, President Tinubu now appears unable to effectively tackle the worsening insecurity ravaging Nigeria.
“It is the same nonchalance and lack of concern that defined the Jonathan years that we are witnessing today, as Tinubu, his ministers and National Assembly members had no problem participating in recent party primaries while more than 81 children remain in terrorists’ dens.
“While elections are undeniably important, the safety and welfare of ordinary Nigerians are far more important. A government unable to guarantee this has failed in its responsibility and lacks the moral authority to seek re-election.”
The groups also called on Nigerians, organised labour, youths and civil society organisations to embark on peaceful nationwide protests to demand the rescue of all abducted Nigerians and improved security across the country.
The statement was jointly signed by rapper and activist Falz (Folarin Falana); Hassan Soweto of the Organising Committee of the #EndBadGovernanceMovement, Lagos State; Mike Igaga, Executive Director, Moses Oisakede, among others.
