Grace Frank Ojobo, Country Chair of Trefoil Guild Nigeria, has joined women in Plateau State in a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward securing the immediate release and safe return of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.
Speaking during a peaceful solidarity gathering in Jos, Trefoil Guild Nigeria Country Chair expressed deep concern over the plight of the kidnapped children and the anguish their families have continued to endure. She described the unfortunate incident as a national tragedy that demands urgent and coordinated intervention from all relevant security agencies and stakeholders.
According to her, "every Nigerian child has the right to safety, education, and protection, the captivity of innocent children threatens not only the future of the victims but also the confidence of parents and communities in the nation's educational system."
"We stand in solidarity with the parents and families of these children. As mothers, caregivers, and advocates for the welfare of children, we share their pain and anxiety. We are appealing to the Federal Government to deploy every available resource to ensure that these children and their teachers are rescued and reunited with their loved ones without delay," Ojobo stated.
Trefoil Guild Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting child welfare, peace, and community development, urging citizens not to relent in advocating for the protection of children and the preservation of their right to quality education in a secure environment.
Speaking on behalf of the women under the auspices"Women are crying, Bring Back Our Children Alive,"
President of the National Council for Women Society, NCWS Plateau State Chapter,Celina Ali, lamented the increasing incidents of kidnapping as heartbreaking and unacceptable.
“Today, we raise our voices in concern over the increasing cases of kidnapping across Nigeria, especially the abduction of innocent children, students, teachers, and citizens, We appeal for greater protection of schools, rural communities, and vulnerable groups who are most affected by these attacks. The safety of every Nigerian citizen must be treated as a national priority,”she decried.
Convener of the Program Chief Executive Officer of HAG Foundation, HRH Hajiya Ramatu Abdul-Salam Agabi, explained, it was important for the women gathered to sympathize with mothers whose children had been kidnapped and to seek divine intervention for the victims’ safe return.
On her part, State Coordinator of the Women Peace and Security Network (WPS-N) and Executive Director of Women and Girl-Child Rescue and Development Initiative (WGRDI), Ambassador Bridget Dakyes,expressed concern that mass kidnappings had now become frequent in many communities.
“As mothers, we don’t have another country except Nigeria. We must protect and preserve it,” she added.
The women, drawn from various community organizations, faith-based groups, and civil society networks across Plateau State, carried placards with inscriptions:
#I am a Mother my heart bleeds for those in Captivity
#Bring Back Our Children
#Nigerians Should be Safe in their Land
#Nigerian Children are not Bargaining Chips, calling for the safe return of the abducted children and urging authorities to strengthen measures to protect schools and vulnerable communities across the country.
The gathering also offered prayers for the victims, their families, and security personnel involved in rescue operations, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards the safe return of the children and good governance in Nigerian.https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14qp3fJyZsk/
