Curfew Is No Substitute for Rescue: Tinubu, the Oyo Government Must Secure the Immediate Release of Abducted Schoolchildren and Teachers

PRESS STATEMENT

Curfew Is No Substitute for Rescue: Tinubu, the Oyo Government Must Secure the Immediate Release of Abducted Schoolchildren and Teachers

Curfews cannot replace rescue efforts. If these children and teachers are not returned, the streets will once again become the people’s platform for demanding action!

The Take It Back Movement has received with concern the announcement by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, imposing a 16-hour curfew across ten Local Government Areas surrounding the Old Oyo National Park following the prolonged abduction of schoolchildren and teachers who have now spent over 39 days in captivity.

We are compelled to state that the declaration of a curfew, more than 39 days after the abduction occurred, cannot substitute for the urgent rescue of the victims and the dismantling of the criminal networks responsible for their continued captivity.

The painful reality is that dozens of innocent children and their teachers remain in the hands of kidnappers while their families endure unimaginable trauma, uncertainty, and anguish. The prolonged captivity of these victims represents a grave failure of the security architecture at both state and federal levels and raises serious questions about the priority accorded to the safety and welfare of citizens.

We are particularly concerned that the response of government appears reactive rather than proactive. The people of Oyo State deserve clear answers regarding the concrete steps being taken to secure the release of the abducted children and teachers. They deserve transparency, accountability, and regular updates rather than measures that primarily restrict the movement of already traumatised communities.

The Take It Back Movement therefore states clearly that Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies, and the Federal Government must treat the rescue of the victims as an urgent national priority. Every available lawful resource should be deployed towards ensuring their safe and immediate release. The government must also provide adequate support to the affected families and communities who have borne the burden of this tragedy for far too long.

Should the authorities continue to fail in their responsibility to secure the freedom of these children and teachers, the Take It Back Movement will not stand by in silence. We will be compelled to return to the streets until every victim is safely reunited with their family.

Furthermore, this disturbing incident once again exposes the broader crisis of insecurity confronting communities across Nigeria. Citizens cannot continue to live under the constant threat of abduction while those entrusted with protecting lives and property offer little more than temporary restrictions and assurances.

As the victims mark over 39 days in captivity, we reiterate our solidarity with their families, friends, and communities. We demand immediate action, not symbolic gestures. The safe return of every abducted child and teacher must remain the overriding priority. The lives of these children and educators matter. Their freedom cannot wait.

Signed:
Juwon Sanyaolu
National Coordinator
Take It Back Movement, Nigeria