Nollywood actor Femi Branch has appealed to Nigerian political leaders to stop dragging innocent children into political battles following the abduction and eventual rescue of pupils and teachers from the Orire Community High School in Oyo State.
The actor made the appeal in a video shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, a day after the 46 abducted pupils and teachers regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.
The victims were rescued on Friday through a coordinated operation involving security agencies after weeks of intensive search efforts and negotiations. Their release brought relief to families and residents who had anxiously awaited their return since they were kidnapped in May.
Branch’s comments came in response to remarks by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who suggested that the timing of the abduction raised questions.
Speaking after the victims were rescued, Makinde noted that he declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election at about 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the following day, the pupils and teachers had been abducted. The governor said the sequence of events appeared suspicious, implying that the incident could have been politically motivated.
Reacting to the governor’s remarks, Branch urged politicians, regardless of party affiliation, not to make children victims of political rivalries.
“I just want to make an appeal to all of us in this country. I’m not directing this at anybody, but whatever dirty politics we’re playing, can we please leave innocent children out of it,” he said.
“The children in this country are already suffering enough. The quality of education they receive is poor, and they face so many challenges. Innocent children were kept in the bush for 56 days. Those children must be traumatised and deserve care and support.”
The actor said political disagreements should never come at the expense of children, stressing that the ordeal endured by the abducted pupils should not be turned into a political issue.
“The governor came out and said he declared for president at 4 p.m., and by 9 a.m. the next morning the children and teachers were taken away, suggesting it was political. My appeal is simple: whatever the politics may be, please leave these innocent children out of it. I’m not attacking or calling out anyone; I’m only pleading that our children should not become victims of our political differences,” he added.
The rescue of the Orire schoolchildren ended nearly two months of uncertainty and renewed concerns over the safety of schools in Nigeria, with many stakeholders calling for stronger security measures to protect students and prevent future attacks.