Former Minister Oby Ezekwesili Warns Nigeria Faces Institutional Breakdown As Child Kidnappings Surge Despite A Decade Of Advocacy

 

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has issued one of her strongest public critiques yet, arguing that Nigeria’s worsening insecurity is not merely a matter of operational failure but the product of corruption so deeply rooted that it has hollowed out the nation’s core institutions.

A powerful message shared through her X account on Monday underscored her conviction that years of decay within the public system have left the military, judiciary and other critical structures unable to respond effectively to the escalating wave of violence and mass kidnappings. According to her, the breakdown citizens witness today is the logical outcome of ignoring years of warning signs.

A passionate advocate for the safe return of the Chibok schoolgirls, Ezekwesili described the recurring abductions of schoolchildren as an indictment of the political class rather than isolated lapses. She recalled that for more than a decade, her advocacy and that of other activists sought to push leaders toward reforms that would strengthen institutions, yet very little changed.

A startling set of figures guided her argument. Drawing from UNICEF and Save the Children, she highlighted that between 2014 and 2022, at least 1,680 students were seized in 70 separate incidents. The pattern did not ease afterward, as another 816 students were abducted in 22 attacks recorded between 2023 and November 2025. To her, these numbers reflect a tragic normalization of child kidnappings that has taken root because institutions meant to protect citizens have been compromised for far too long.

A decade after the world was shaken by the Chibok abduction, Ezekwesili insisted that no administration can plausibly claim that the challenges are new or misunderstood. She argued that the excuses once offered are no longer tenable, since every warning about leaving corruption unchecked has now materialized in the country’s most vulnerable communities.

A sense of moral exhaustion appeared throughout her remarks. She lamented what she described as the fading outrage among citizens and leaders alike, noting that empathy has diminished as tragedies repeat year after year. According to her, the recently abducted students are not only victims of armed groups but casualties of a collective failure that spans governments, institutions and society.

A clear message ran through her commentary. The state has failed at its most basic obligation, which is to safeguard its youngest citizens. To her, recurring kidnappings signal not only a security problem but a collapse of values, accountability and governance.

A conclusion to her argument called for a reckoning. She insisted that Nigeria must confront the truth that only a systemic overhaul can reverse the crisis. Anything less would leave children exposed and the nation sliding further into instability.