The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised serious concerns about the safety of children in Nigeria and is urging the government, led by President Tinubu, to intensify efforts to protect them.

In a statement signed by its president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, CAN made this plea on May 27, 2026, to mark Children’s Day. The association emphasized that this year’s celebration occurs during a painful time for many families, particularly in light of recent attacks on schools in Oyo State, where gunmen abducted both pupils and teachers, leaving parents traumatised and communities shaken. According to CAN, these abductions have renewed distressing questions regarding the safety of children and the future of education amid worsening insecurity. The association expressed deep concern for the children still in captivity and the emotional pain their families are enduring. “No child should have to experience fear and violence in a place meant for learning, protection, and hope,” CAN stated.

Additionally, CAN expressed sympathy for the teachers who find themselves in these tragic situations alongside their students. “Teachers do far more than teach lessons in classrooms. They guide, protect, encourage, and nurture the children entrusted to their care every day. In many ways, they become trusted guardians and second parents to the young lives they help shape. The thought of teachers facing fear and uncertainty alongside the children they are trying to protect should weigh heavily on the conscience of the nation,” the statement continued.

The organisation highlighted the troubling reality that parents are increasingly afraid to send their children to school, while teachers feel uncertain about their safety. Beyond insecurity, CAN pointed out that millions of Nigerian children are also grappling with poverty, hunger, abuse, trafficking, child labour, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. These challenges are steadily denying many children the stability, dignity, and opportunities they deserve.

As a result, CAN called on all levels of government and security agencies to prioritise the protection of schools and children as an urgent national responsibility. They emphasised that “children must never become victims of a failing security system or repeated targets of criminal violence.”

The association urged leaders to recognise that each attack on a school undermines public confidence, hinders national development, and leaves emotional scars that can affect a generation’s future.

CAN called on all stakeholders to collaborate to protect children, strengthen moral values, and create environments where young people can thrive without fear.

Finally, CAN appealed to children not to lose hope: “Your future is important, your lives have value, and your dreams deserve protection and support. As the nation marks Children’s Day 2026, may this occasion inspire a deeper sense of responsibility among leaders and citizens alike to build a Nigeria where every child can live, learn, and grow in peace, safety, and dignity,” the statement concluded. (Sunday Tribune)

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