A former presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Hashim has issued a strong condemnation of the abduction of schoolchildren from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, and recent coordinated attacks on multiple schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State within the Ogbomosho axis, describing the incidents as “a brutal assault on Nigeria’s future.”
The affected schools in Oyo State include Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A Primary School, Esiele.
In a sharply worded reaction, Hashim said the targeting of schoolchildren marks a dangerous escalation in terror tactics and a direct attack on education, stability, and National hope.
“Schools must never become theatres of fear,” he stated, warning that repeated attacks on learning institutions risk entrenching insecurity across generations.
He extended condolences to affected families while urging the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly and decisively, insisting that the safe and immediate rescue of the children must be treated as a national priority.
The former presidential candidate said the incidents expose persistent weaknesses in Nigeria’s rural security framework, where insurgent groups continue to exploit ungoverned spaces, poverty, and limited State presence.
Referencing the recent elimination of an ISIS commander through joint Nigerian–U.S. operations, Hashim acknowledged the importance of military gains but cautioned against overreliance on isolated successes.
“This tragedy is a stark reminder that tactical victories alone cannot secure the Nation,” he said.
He called for a decisive shift toward a comprehensive National security doctrine, combining sustained military pressure with intelligence coordination, border control, rural security expansion, and targeted socio-economic interventions.
Hashim also urged the international community to pay closer attention to the deteriorating security situation in Northern Nigeria, warning that its implications extend beyond National borders into the wider West and Central African region.
He criticised the lack of sustained global urgency, particularly regarding repeated abductions of African children, cautioning against growing international indifference.
“The world must not become desensitised,” he said.
Concluding, he warned that Nigeria cannot build a stable future under the shadow of fear.
“No nation can thrive when its children are hunted and its schools are under siege.”
