EDITORIAL: 18 Days in Captivity: When will Oyo’s children come home?

Eighteen days after gunmen stormed a school in Oyo State and whisked away dozens of pupils and teachers, the deafening question remains unanswered: where are the children, and when will they return home?

For the parents of these innocent victims, every sunrise brings fresh agony. Every passing day deepens the trauma. Every government assurance that fails to produce results compounds their despair. Among those held captive are children as young as two, three and four years old, youngsters who should be in the safety of their homes and classrooms, not at the mercy of criminals.

The abduction has once again exposed one of the most painful realities of modern Nigeria-the inability of the state to adequately protect its most vulnerable citizens. It is a tragedy that should trouble the conscience of every Nigerian.

When the incident occurred, public officials quickly condemned the attack and promised swift action. Security agencies were mobilised. Statements were issued. Assurances were given. Yet, 18 days later, the children remain in captivity.

The question is no longer whether the government is concerned. The question is whether enough is being done.

No parent wants to hear another promise. No teacher wants another expression of sympathy. What Nigerians want are results. They want to see children reunited with their families. They want to see kidnappers apprehended and prosecuted. They want evidence that the government possesses both the capacity and the determination to defeat those who profit from terrorising innocent citizens.

The continued captivity of the Oyo schoolchildren is not merely a local issue. It is a national embarrassment. It is a reminder that despite years of security operations and countless declarations of commitment, criminal gangs still possess the audacity to invade educational institutions and abduct children.

This is precisely why many Nigerians are growing impatient. The country has travelled this road too many times before. From Chibok to Dapchi and several other communities, school abductions have become recurring headlines. The names change. The locations change. The victims change. But the pattern remains painfully familiar.

Criminals strike. Government condemns. Parents weep. The nation waits.

That cycle must end. Schools should be centres of learning, not hunting grounds for kidnappers. Parents should not have to choose between educating their children and keeping them safe. Teachers should not be forced to work under the constant fear of violent attacks.

The ongoing strike by teachers in Oyo State reflects the depth of frustration surrounding this incident. Educators have every right to demand stronger protection. No teacher should be expected to enter a classroom while colleagues and pupils remain in the hands of abductors.

Beyond the immediate rescue effort, this incident raises troubling questions about school security across Nigeria. What preventive measures were in place before the attack? What intelligence warnings existed? How quickly did security agencies respond? What lessons have been learnt from previous school abductions?

These questions cannot be ignored once the current crisis is resolved.

For now, however, the nation’s focus must remain on securing the safe release of every victim. The Federal Government must deploy every available resource-military, intelligence and technological, to ensure their freedom. Oyo State authorities must maintain close coordination with federal agencies. Most importantly, Nigerians deserve regular and transparent updates on progress being made.

Security operations often require confidentiality, but secrecy must not become an excuse for silence. Families living through this nightmare deserve reassurance grounded in action rather than empty promises.

The kidnappers, meanwhile, must understand that they cannot hold an entire nation hostage. Their actions represent an assault on the future of Nigeria. Every child denied education by violence is a setback to national development. Every family shattered by fear is a wound on the nation’s collective conscience.

Eighteen days is too long. Eighteen days of fear. Eighteen days of uncertainty. Eighteen days of suffering for parents who do not know whether their children have eaten, slept safely or received medical attention. Nigeria owes these families more than sympathy. It owes them action.

The government must intensify rescue efforts until every child and teacher is safely returned. Nothing less is acceptable. Nothing less should satisfy the nation. The children have spent eighteen days in captivity. They must not spend another day.