Urgent Call for Action Against School Kidnappings!
On the 15th of May, the painful reality of the heart-breaking incident of school children kidnapped in Oyo State was not just a headline, it is a wound to families, communities, and the conscience of society.
A Moral Lens from Faith and Scripture | BIBLE | QURAN
Across different faith traditions, the protection of children and the condemnation of violence against the innocent is a deeply rooted principle.
Both the Bible (Deuteronomy 24:7) and the Quran (5:33) speak strongly against kidnapping and terror against innocent people.
Because across faiths, one truth remains sacred: children must be protected.
In the Bible, Deuteronomy 24:7 decrees the death penalty for kidnapping, stating:
“If a man is found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you.”
This verse reflects the seriousness with which human life and freedom are regarded in biblical teaching, particularly the protection of individuals from exploitation and abduction.
In the Quran, here is the commonly cited English translation of Quran 5:33 (Surah Al-Ma’idah):
“Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive upon earth [to cause] corruption is none but that they be killed or crucified or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides or that they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world; and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment.”
Similarly, in Islamic teachings, the preservation of life and security is central. Acts that spread fear, violence, and disorder in society are strongly condemned in Islamic jurisprudence under the concept of hirabah, which refers to crimes that threaten public safety and peace. Across interpretations, actions such as kidnapping and violent banditry are viewed as grave violations against both humanity and divine order.
Why are classrooms becoming places of fear instead of hope?
So why are Nigerian parents and children still going to bed afraid?
Why are innocent children still bargaining with trauma instead of dreaming about their future?
This is not about politics.
This is about humanity.
This is about the soul of a nation.
A country that cannot protect its children risks losing its future.
We honour the efforts of security agencies and government, but the pain in our communities tells us more must be done urgently, consistently, and collectively.
Nigeria’s children deserve safety.
Parents deserve peace.
Schools should never become hunting grounds.
Enough tears. Enough fear. Enough silence.
Let this generation be remembered as the one that stood up and said:
Never again. Not to our children.
At The Dukes Infant and Child Foundation, we stand in unwavering solidarity with every affected child, parent, and school community. Children represent hope, innocence, and the future. Any act that threatens their safety is an attack on the very foundation of our shared humanity.
Is the Nigerian Nation at a Crossroad?
The recurring abduction of school children reflects a deepening security crisis that demands urgent, coordinated, and sustained national action. It raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current protection systems and the urgency with which child safety is prioritized.
Every delayed response, every failed prevention, and every unpunished act sends a dangerous message: that children remain vulnerable and unprotected.
This must not continue.
A Call to Government and Security Agencies
The Dukes Infant and Child Foundation urgently calls on all relevant government bodies, including federal and state authorities, security agencies, and education ministries, to treat the protection of school children as a national emergency.
We respectfully demand:
- Immediate strengthening of school security architecture across high-risk and rural areas
- Deployment of rapid response units specifically trained for school-based emergencies
- Improved intelligence gathering and early warning systems to prevent attacks before they occur
- Accountability and transparency in rescue operations and investigations
- Increased funding for child protection and school safety infrastructure
- Collaboration between federal, state, and community security networks
The safety of children must no longer be reactive; it must be preventive, intentional, and sustained.
The Human Cost We Cannot Ignore
Every kidnapped child represents a broken sense of safety for an entire community. Parents now send their children to school with fear in their hearts. Teachers work under anxiety. Children learn under the shadow of uncertainty.
No nation can grow under such conditions.
A Collective Responsibility
While government leadership is critical, safety is a shared responsibility. We also call on:
- School administrators to strengthen internal safeguarding measures
- Community leaders to foster vigilance and reporting systems
- Civil society and faith-based organizations to intensify advocacy and awareness
- Media platforms to responsibly highlight and sustain attention on child protection issues
Hope Must Not Die Here
Even in this painful moment, we must refuse to accept fear as normal. We must refuse to allow silence to replace action.
Our children deserve to grow in safety. They deserve classrooms without fear, roads without danger, and futures without trauma.
The Dukes Infant and Child Foundation remains committed to standing with victims, amplifying advocacy, and pushing for urgent reforms until every child in Nigeria can go to school safely and return home in peace.
This is not just a policy issue.
It is a moral emergency.
And it demands action now.
