A respected pharmacist and Director of Springfield Private School (SPS) and Bosede Idehen International Academy (BIIA), Mrs. Maureen Idehen-Ovabor, has raised serious concerns over the escalating insecurity situation in Nigeria, especially the rising wave of child kidnapping across different parts of the country.
Epeinsights reports that she made this known while speaking with journalists on Monday, where she described the situation as deeply troubling and called for urgent, coordinated intervention from both state and federal authorities.
According to her, the increasing activities of bandits and kidnappers have reached a disturbing level, with innocent children now becoming frequent targets for abduction and ransom demands.
She expressed worry that criminal elements have become more daring, operating with little resistance while placing unbearable emotional and financial pressure on affected families.
Mrs. Idehen-Ovabor questioned how ordinary Nigerian parents are expected to raise huge ransom sums demanded by kidnappers, especially in a harsh economic climate where many families struggle to meet basic needs.
She noted that insecurity has now become a daily reality in the country, with reports of kidnapping dominating news headlines across television stations, radio, and print media.
The education administrator said the development is frightening and has created widespread fear among parents, teachers, and school operators, who now worry about the safety of children even during school hours.
She further explained that as a school proprietor, she fully understands the emotional trauma parents experience when their children go missing or are taken by kidnappers.
She emphasized that schools must remain safe environments, but the current security situation has made it increasingly difficult to guarantee absolute safety without stronger government intervention.
Mrs. Idehen-Ovabor called on both the Federal Government and Oyo State Government to set aside political differences and work together toward rescuing abducted children and restoring peace across affected regions.
She stressed that national security should be treated as a priority above politics, noting that the lives of children must not be reduced to statistics or news headlines.
The SPS/BIIA Director also described kidnapping as a growing criminal enterprise, warning that it appears to be expanding rather than reducing despite ongoing security efforts.
She urged security agencies to adopt more intelligence-driven strategies and strengthen surveillance systems in order to track and dismantle kidnapping networks operating across the country.
In addition, she advised parents to remain vigilant and more involved in monitoring the movement and safety of their children, especially during school runs and daily activities.
She revealed that her institutions have already implemented stricter security measures and reinforced communication between school management and parents to ensure better student safety.
According to her, safeguarding children should not be the responsibility of security agencies alone but a shared duty involving families, schools, and community stakeholders.
Mrs. Idehen-Ovabor further described the current state of insecurity as a national emergency that demands urgent and collective action.
She expressed deep sadness that even during celebrations meant for children, some Nigerian children are still in captivity, separated from their families and loved ones.
She concluded by urging government authorities and security agencies to intensify efforts toward rescuing all abducted children and restoring confidence in the nation’s security system.
The education advocate maintained that Nigeria can only move forward when children are protected, communities are safe, and citizens can live without fear of abduction or violence.
