In the not-too-far-away days of childhood, I used to treasure May 27.
The day was children’s day!
I used the past tense deliberately.
Then, we were as innocent as lambs.
Although we had heard of gbomogbomo (kidnappers), none of us had ever experienced being ferried away in broad daylight. Little did we know that n ot only gbomogbomo but gbagbagbagba (“adultnappers”) would soon be an incurable disease of our dearest country.
We went to march at the stadium and got bottles of soda and puffpuff(?) for our efforts.
The message was that we were leaders of tomorrow.
We were lucky!
I watched a video clip of a parent whose child had been kidnapped. When asked if she would allow her child, if she were eventually released, to go back to school, she said it wasn’t certain. I wouldn’t blame the poor mother.
By the way, about two of the teachers were sent to the Grim Reaper. One was beheaded in a real-life video, according to sources.
In 2014, 276 schoolgirls aged between 16 and 18 were kidnapped from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno state. 82 of them are yet to be found. Sources say some of them had been married off to their abductors, and some have died.
However, some of those who were released or escaped have graduated from universities.
According to sources, 1,400 school children have been kidnapped in Nigeria, and there’s no evidence to prove that the insanity will stop.
What about their teachers?
They are equally threatened species.
I doubt if anyone is safe in the country except the ruling class, their wannabes and house slaves.
The average Nigerian child is carrying a burden of insecurity, of insufficient educational material and of poverty.
Meanwhile, there is a yearning gap between the education received by children of the poor and the privileged few, if they decide to receive their education in the country.
The children of the poor are potential PTSD clients.
No wonder the average Nigerian student of today is as wise as a fox.
Who’ll save them from undue maturity?
