Actress Mary Njoku slams public apathy over kidnapped Oyo schoolchildren

Nollywood actress and producer Mary Remmy Njoku has voiced her anger regarding the kidnapping of students in Oyo State, questioning how the nation is handling the escalating insecurity issue.

In an Instagram story shared on Tuesday, the filmmaker stated that she awoke feeling “furious, devastated, and profoundly disturbed” about the situation of the abducted children.

She raised the issue of whether Nigerians have grown accustomed to instances of abduction and violent acts, expressing her concern about the increasing public apathy towards insecurity.

Njoku expressed, “This morning, I woke up feeling furious, devastated, and profoundly disturbed.”

“Are we truly asserting that these abducted children are simply lost? Are we claiming that there's nothing further that can be accomplished? How can innocent children and toddlers disappear, while the rest of us are expected to proceed as if nothing has occurred?” she posed.

Njoku also questioned if the continual occurrences of kidnappings and banditry have now been accepted as the new normal in the country.

The leader of Iroko TV remarked that the recurrence of such events has made many Nigerians respond with a sense of defeat instead of urgency.

“Have we become so desensitized to the ceaseless news of bandits, abductions, and insecurity in Nigeria that they hardly affect us anymore? Is this truly our accepted norm?” she continued.

Her response arises in the context of widespread indignation regarding the kidnapping of 46 children in Oyo State, a shocking event that has sparked widespread condemnation nationwide.

Numerous actors and entertainers from Nollywood have also turned to social media to share their worries about the deteriorating security situation.

Among them are Ruth Kadiri, Funke Akindele, Toke Makinwa, Mercy Eke, Patience Ozokwo, Biola Bayo, Sotayo Gaga, Paul Okoye, and others, all calling for immediate government action to ensure the victims' safe return and enhance safety in schools.

Other prominent individuals in the industry, such as Muyiwa Ademola, Adeniyi Johnson, Lateef Adedimeji, Kunle Remi, and Lala Akindoju, have similarly condemned the rise in insecurity and have urged authorities to take more decisive measures to safeguard lives and property.