"Bring Our Students Home: Celebrities Urge Government to Act on Abducted Oyo Children"

Several Nigerian celebrities have expressed outrage over the abduction of students in Oyo State, describing this year’s Children’s Day celebration as painful and heartbreaking.

Among those who reacted were Toke Makinwa, Paul Okoye, Ruth Kadiri, Patience Ozokwor, Mercy Eke, Tayo Sobola and Chiwetalu Agu, who all took to social media to demand the safe return of the abducted children.

The reactions followed reports of the abduction of students and teachers in Oyo State.
Using the hashtag #BringBackOurStudents, the celebrities lamented the worsening insecurity in the country and questioned the safety of children and citizens.

Actress Ruth Kadiri wrote, “There was once a country were people lived freely… now fear resides with us. Uncertainty lives amongst us. Stay and build your country they say. Stay where? Home is no longer safe. Home is no longer home. Our children are kidnapped right before our eyes.

“Every mother’s nightmare is here. You might say it cannot be me. Lol those mothers, teachers, students children. NYSC corpers thought so too. A better Nigeria is what we seek…”

Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, simply described the occasion as “unhappy children day”.

Actress Toke Makinwa shared a short prayer on her social media page, writing: “

On this Children’s Day… Dear God.”

Nollywood Veteran actress Patience Ozokwor also reacted, saying:

“How sad this children’s day is, not only for the parents of these abducted children and teachers but for all of us as a nation.

“What can we do to change the narrative? How can they be brought back home safely? How are children being targeted and we are silent? How will change happen if we remain silent?#SoHelpUsGod

#MamaGLovers.”

In the same vein, BBN star, Mercy Eke wrote, “Children’s Day; but are the children even SAFE or HAPPY?

To the 51 innocent children who should be at home playing, laughing, and living freely, our hearts are with you. You shouldn’t be living in fear or captivity. No child should ever have to endure or suffer this pain.“The government and security agencies have a duty to these kids and we pray for their safe return to their families.

Please bring back our kids home safely.”

Actress Tayo Sobola urged Nigerians to remain vigilant amid the growing insecurity.

“The questions I often ask myself are plenty. Please, let’s be careful of our surroundings, where we go and what we do. This can obviously happen to anyone.

“You people that travelled to your hometown for sallah despite all these brouhaha please be careful,” she wrote.

Kehinde Bankole also lamented the recurring cases of abduction in Nigeria, drawing comparisons with the Chibok girls’ abduction.

He said, “We cannot say Happy Children’s Day, if consistently the children continue to get taken. Now its old and young taken together. We are back at it again.

“One time it was Chibok Girls, I even performed a theatre show about these girls’ stories. Here we are again, Children’s Day without all the children being safe and protected. Again, we are calling on the Government for the start of long lasting solutions.

We will keep asking, we will not be quiet. The Nigerian Government has a duty to its people.“We cannot say happy childrens day if all children are not safe and protected. A lasting solution to insecurity must be the biggest agenda the Nigerian nation should pursue.”

Nollywood veteran, Chiwetalu Agu, also took to his social media, saying,

“Happy Childrens Day To All The Kids All Over The World. Over 70 children and several adults were abducted in two heartbreaking mass kidnapping incidents in Nigeria on May 15, 2026.

“In Mussa Town, Borno State, armed militants stormed schools and homes, abducting at least 42 children and several adults, including nursery pupils between the ages of 2 and 5.

“In Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, gunmen kidnapped at least 39 students and 7 teachers after attacking two primary schools and a secondary school.

Three adults, including a teacher, were also killed during the raid.

“These innocent children and teachers have been in captivity for days, while families continue to live in fear, pain, and uncertainty. The question now is: what exactly is the government doing? How can children be taken from schools and communities in such numbers, yet there is still no concrete result or rescue?

“How many more children must suffer before stronger actions are taken against insecurity in this country? Nigeria cannot continue to normalize kidnappings, killings, and the abduction of school children. The safety of citizens, especially children, should never be negotiable.

“We lend our voices and demand urgent action, accountability, and the safe return of every victim.

May God protect our children and help Nigeria. Amen.”