Oyo Government Appeals for Pupils’ Return After Abduction as Borno Children Mark 131 Days in Captivity
Students of Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Oyo State, have been out of school since the May abductions of pupils and teachers from the area, which led the state government to call on parents to help bring the children back to school.
The development was a result of a visit by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Oyo State, Olusegun Olayiwola, to Yawota and the affected communities in the area of the security incident. The school has not yet reopened for the new academic year, and some of the affected children have reportedly been going to the school during school hours for skills acquisition.
Olayiwola urged education officials to follow up with affected learners and ensure their return to school, noting that there is a risk of further children being out of school. He also requested the officials to consider supporting the Baptist owned school and the posting of more teachers, especially Mathematics teachers to Ahoro-Esiele Community Grammar School.
The case illustrates the impact of school absences can have long after the child has returned home. On May 15, 46 pupils and teachers were kidnapped in Oyo and released after 56 days. The case has since gone to trial, and five suspected Ansaru members are facing terrorism charges.
Meanwhile, 131 days have passed since the abduction of children from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, Askira-Uba, Borno State. The Borno State Government reported that there were about 44 children still missing, though the number has been reported as between 40 and 45.
This week, the families of Borno children protested, calling for their release and threatened to go to Abuja if there is no progress.
The two scenarios highlight the long-term effects of school absences on children’s learning, families and communities.
