Teachers Stay Off Classrooms, Parents Live in Fear, Political Leaders Demand Action
Anietie Udobit, Abuja
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Nigeria’s worsening kidnapping epidemic has taken another disturbing turn following the abduction of the sister and twin children of former Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, in Ibadan.
The incident has intensified national concern over rising insecurity in Oyo State and the broader South-West region.
The attack comes amid continuing outrage over recent school abductions that have forced public school teachers under the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to embark on an indefinite strike. The union insists that educators cannot continue to work under conditions where schools increasingly appear vulnerable to criminal attacks. Parents are equally alarmed. Many fear that classrooms—once considered safe spaces for learning—are becoming targets for kidnappers seeking ransom payments.
Security analysts say the latest incidents underscore a troubling shift in criminal activity.
Historically, mass kidnappings were concentrated in parts of the North-West and North-Central zones. Today, however, similar attacks are spreading into southern states, raising concerns about the emergence of nationwide kidnapping networks. Political figures have also entered the debate.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party stalwart Datti Baba-Ahmed have criticised the federal government’s anti-terror strategy, arguing that citizens are losing confidence in official security responses.
The government, however, maintains that military and intelligence operations continue to record significant successes against criminal groups. Yet for ordinary Nigerians, statistics matter less than personal safety. The growing anxiety is affecting economic activities, educational institutions, and public confidence. Many residents now avoid travelling after dark while communities increasingly organise local vigilante structures.
Security experts warn that unless urgent measures are taken—including intelligence-led policing, improved surveillance, stronger border controls, and better coordination among security agencies—the kidnapping industry could continue expanding.
The latest abduction is therefore more than an isolated crime. It is another warning sign in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle to reclaim public spaces from criminal networks.