ABUJA – The Nat’l President of the Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG), Comr. Akpovoke Otiti, has expressed deep concern over the prolonged silence of government regarding the alleged abduction of schoolchildren from Lassa, Borno State, warning that the nation cannot continue to celebrate its independence while children remain in captivity.
Otiti said it was “quite unfortunate and deeply sad” that Nigeria proceeded with its Independence Day celebrations while families were still waiting for information about children allegedly abducted on May 15, 2026.
According to him, about 78 schoolchildren were reportedly taken into captivity, with some families allegedly having two or three of their children among those still missing. He said the children had now spent about 143 days in captivity, with reports indicating that some of the victims are as young as one year and seven months.
Otiti said the prolonged captivity of the children should be a matter of urgent national concern, stressing that their physical and psychological condition could not be ignored. “If this doesn’t break you, I don’t know what else will,” he said, describing the situation as unacceptable in a country that claims to place the protection of its citizens, particularly children, among its priorities.
The GOMEP-NG President further alleged that the Lassa abduction occurred on the same day that schoolchildren were kidnapped in Oyo State, yet the plight of the Lassa victims had not received comparable public attention.
He said parents whose children are allegedly still in captivity deserved regular and credible information from government and security authorities on what was being done to secure their release. “Parents whose children are in captivity have not gotten any meaningful response or information about what is being done. These are innocent children who went to school to learn and have now spent months in the bush in the hands of terrorists,” Otiti said.
He expressed “particular concern” over the age of some of the alleged victims, saying the possibility that very young children could have spent months in such conditions should trouble the conscience of every Nigerian.
According to him, nobody can confidently determine the children’s current medical condition or the psychological trauma they may be experiencing after such a prolonged period in captivity. Otiti also expressed concern about the emotional and psychological state of the parents, particularly families who allegedly have several children simultaneously in captivity.
“How do parents cope when two or three of their children are taken away and they receive no clear information about their safety? What is happening to these children medically and psychologically after spending months with terrorists in the bush?” he asked.
The GOMEP-NG President appealed to the Federal Government, Borno State Government and security agencies to urgently provide credible information on the children and intensify efforts aimed at securing their safe release.
He also cautioned political leaders against allowing political activities to overshadow the urgent responsibility of protecting citizens and rescuing children in captivity. “It is not enough to campaign, make political statements or celebrate national occasions. The lives and safety of these children must remain a priority,” he said.
Otiti urged the government to communicate transparently with the affected families and the Nigerian public, stressing that silence only deepens the anxiety, fear and trauma being experienced by the families.
He called for a coordinated national response involving the security agencies, relevant government institutions, traditional leaders and credible community stakeholders to ensure that the abducted children are located and safely reunited with their families.
“Every day these children remain in captivity is another day of pain for their parents and another wound on the conscience of our nation. Nigeria must not become comfortable with the suffering of its children,” the GOMEP-NG President said.
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