PACTPAN Nigeria Calls for Urgent Action to End Child Kidnapping and Protect Education
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian chapter of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) has called for urgent, coordinated action to address the growing crisis of child kidnapping, describing it as a threat not only to national security but also to education, child protection, and sustainable development.
The call was made during a webinar titled “Child Kidnapping in Nigeria: Implications for Education, Security and Sustainable Development,” which brought together faith leaders, development practitioners, educators, and concerned citizens to examine the worsening crisis and explore practical solutions for protecting children and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s educational system.
Moderated by Mrs. Vivian Emesowum, PACTPAN Nigeria’s Awareness Team Lead and a child rights advocate, the webinar explored the root causes, consequences, and possible responses to child kidnapping through the lenses of faith, education, governance, and community engagement.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Emesowum described child kidnapping as more than a security concern, calling it a national development challenge with far-reaching consequences for education, child protection, family well-being, and social stability. Throughout the session, she challenged participants to reflect on the responsibilities of government, communities, religious institutions, and citizens while considering lessons Nigeria could learn from countries that have made progress in reducing child kidnapping.
The webinar featured presentations by Fr Augustine Ikenna and Sr Paschal Mba, both of whom drew on their extensive experience in education, pastoral ministry, and community development.
Speaking on the educational consequences of insecurity, Sr Paschal Mba highlighted the decline in school enrolment, particularly among girls, as many parents increasingly fear sending their children to school. She noted that insecurity has forced some schools to adjust their academic calendars, while orphanages and institutions caring for vulnerable children continue to face growing pressure as the number of displaced and at-risk children continues to increase.
She identified corruption, weak institutions, poor leadership, greed, declining family values, and the erosion of moral principles as major contributors to the crisis. She urged religious leaders to complement prayer with courageous advocacy by speaking out against injustice, promoting safer communities, and expanding access to affordable education and vocational training that offers hope to young people.
Fr Augustine Ikenna examined the impact of mass kidnappings on education in Nigeria. Referring to the widespread school abductions recorded since the Chibok incident in 2014, he observed that thousands of children have been abducted, many schools have been forced to close, and millions of learners have experienced severe disruptions to their education. He stressed that out-of-school children remain highly vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups and criminal networks, making sustained investment in education an essential component of national security and long-term development.
Participants also discussed the broader regional dimensions of child trafficking and violent extremism across West Africa. The discussion highlighted how poverty, unemployment, poor governance, and weak accountability continue to fuel insecurity while exposing children and young people to exploitation by criminal and extremist groups.
During the interactive session, Mrs. Emesowum challenged the speakers to reflect on why Nigeria continues to devote substantial resources to responding to kidnappings while investing comparatively less in quality education, child protection, and preventive measures. She also sought their perspectives on lessons Nigeria could draw from countries that have recorded progress through stronger accountability, community participation, and effective governance.
Participants agreed that ending child kidnapping requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach involving government, families, faith communities, schools, civil society organisations, and local communities. They emphasized the importance of strengthening family values, improving accountability, investing in education and youth employment, promoting community vigilance, and encouraging religious leaders to become stronger advocates for justice and child protection.
Child kidnapping is not merely a security concern but also a moral, educational, social, and developmental crisis requiring collective action across all sectors of society.”
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Emesowum thanked the speakers and participants for their valuable contributions, noting that the webinar reinforced the understanding that child kidnapping is not merely a security concern but also a moral, educational, social, and developmental crisis requiring collective action across all sectors of society.
Out-of-school children remain highly vulnerable to recruitment by terrorist groups and criminal networks, making investment in education an essential component of national security.”
PACTPAN Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue, advocacy, and collaborative action on issues affecting vulnerable populations across Africa. The network called on governments, faith-based institutions, civil society organizations, and citizens to work together to safeguard every child’s right to education, safety, and a hopeful future.
Religious leaders must complement prayer with courageous advocacy to promote safer communities and expand access to education and vocational training.”
Ending child kidnapping requires a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach involving government, families, faith communities, schools, civil society organizations, and local communities.
