Why Oyo Missing Teachers, School Children Should Be Treated As National Priority

The reported disappearance of children in Oyo State has raised serious concerns among many Nigerians. Protests are going on across the nation. Teachers, families, civil society groups are rising against the government, calling for the immediate rescue of the children.

For families whose children are still unaccounted for, every day brings anxiety, uncertainty, and pain. They are no longer comfortable. For now they cannot tell the state of their children. Some msy have died. Some may have grown thin and weak. This is because they are being malnourished.

Citizens expect government at all levels to place the safety and welfare of children above political interests. But in Nigeria the reverse is the case. Our politicians prefer their welfare over the well-being of little children. Instead of seeking means to rescue the children, their interest is in 2027 general elections.

This is not the nation we all bargained for. We expect a nation that will take the welfare and security of its citizens as topmost priority. Our president, governors, senators and others are working assiduously to win 2027 elections but our kids are pining away in the forest.

Protecting lives is one of the most important responsibilities of any government. This is one and major priority of government. The Constitution mandates the Nigerian government to protect the lives and property of Nigerians. When children go missing, people naturally want to see urgent action, clear communication, and visible efforts to locate them.

Rather than see action of government towards the rescue of the teachers and children, we see videos of the teachers crying daily as they reveal the ordeal they are going through in the hands of their abductors in the forest. We are tired of seeing children crying and teachers battling flies around them. The environment they are is stinking and repugnant.

Many Nigerians believe that public officials should focus on resolving security and safety challenges affecting ordinary citizens. Yes, this is the expectation of Nigerians.

They argue that the search for the missing children deserves sustained attention until answers are provided to affected families. The families of the children and teachers are in dilemma. Some are already politicizing the kidnap of the teachers, arguing that the action was to tell bad image of President Tinubu's government.

The issue has also sparked conversations about accountability and the role of citizens in demanding action from leaders. In a democracy, people have the right to raise concerns, ask questions, and call on authorities to address matters that affect public welfare.

Regardless of political differences, the safety of children should remain a national priority. Families deserve answers, communities deserve reassurance, and every effort should be made to ensure that the missing children are found and reunited with their loved ones.