Children’s Day: Celebrities call for safe return of abducted Oyo pupils

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

Nigerian celebrities have taken to their social media pages to post heartfelt messages in remembrance of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo during the 2026 Children’s Day celebration.

Human rights activist Adetoun Onajobi, popularly known as Just Adetoun, took to her Instagram page on Wednesday to lament the absence of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren. According to her, sleep had evaded her since the incident occurred due to the disturbing videos released by bandits to facilitate ransom payment. She urged the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to intervene on behalf of the children.

In a similar post, skit maker Oluwabukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, popularly known as Kiekie, also shared a heartfelt message on her Instagram page. She wrote: “It’s Children’s Day, but there are no children to celebrate”. She called on the government and security agencies to facilitate the release of the abducted children while praying for the comfort of affected families.

Actress Kehinde Bankole, in her post, recalled the role she played in portraying the ordeals of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted in 2014, stressing the persistent nature of insurgency in the country. She wrote: “We cannot say happy Children’s Day if the children continue to be taken consistently. Now it’s the old and young taken together again. We are calling on the government for the start of a long-lasting solution.”

Veteran actress Patience Ozokwo, fondly called Mama G, described the 2026 Children’s Day celebration as a sad one for parents, families of kidnapped victims and the nation at large.

Reality TV star Mercy Eke of the Big Brother Naija Pepper Dem edition questioned whether children could truly be happy on a day meant to celebrate them amid the growing insecurity.

Other celebrities who lent their voices to the issue include Toke Makinwa, Rudeboy and Ruth Kadiri, who used the Children’s Day celebration to remember the abducted schoolchildren and teachers, describing it as an “unhappy Children’s Day”.

The celebrities urged Nigerians to keep speaking out, praying and demanding action as families of the missing victims await their safe return.