50 Days After Oyo School Kidnapping, 46 Students Still Missing

It has been exactly 50 days since 46 students and teachers were taken from a school in Oyo State, and there is still no sign of them. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressed the nation almost two weeks after the incident, assuring us that all measures were being deployed. But since then, silence.

The situation worsened when it emerged that the security agents sent to rescue them were unarmed vigilantes with no proper equipment. Then came the viral reports that the kidnappers demanded the legalization of Sharia law in Oyo State as a condition for release — and the government did nothing to counter that narrative. The Oyo State governor met with families and promised action, but the victims were later seen on video advising their families to negotiate, suggesting they felt endangered by the rescue efforts.

The Nigeria Union of Teachers suspended their strike two days ago after receiving security assurances, yet no rescue has happened. How do we keep accepting this as normal?