In his farewell address on Sunday, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), the outgoing president of Nigeria, expressed deep grief for the children and citizens who remain in captivity. He acknowledged the pain experienced by parents, friends, and relatives who have lost loved ones to the senseless acts of brigandage and carnage.
Addressing the nation, President Buhari stated, “To this day, I still mourn for our children who are languishing in captivity and stand in solidarity with the families affected by these tragic events. Our security agencies are tirelessly working around the clock to secure their safe release.”
President Buhari also emphasized his unwavering commitment to eradicating corrupt practices that have continuously hindered Nigeria’s progress in becoming a great nation. He expressed his earnest intention to rid the country of corruption, which has consistently undermined their efforts.
The severity of the situation was highlighted by UNICEF, which reported that since 2014, there have been more than 2,400 verified incidents of grave violations, affecting over 6,800 children in the north-east region of Nigeria. These violations include the recruitment or use of children by armed groups, with 700 verified cases, as well as abductions of children (693 incidents) and killings and maiming (675 incidents).
In a recent publication, UNICEF further revealed alarming statistics from the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria. Between 2009 and 2022, approximately 2,295 teachers were reported to have been killed in attacks, over 19,000 teachers were displaced, more than 1,500 schools had to close due to insecurity, and 910 schools were destroyed.
As the outgoing president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) bids farewell to his tenure, his words reflect the pressing need to address the challenges faced by Nigeria.
