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Story: In July 2021, 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School in Kaduna were kidnapped by bandits, leading to a payment of N250 million ransom by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for their release. This was disclosed by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, CAN’s Kaduna State chapter chairman, during a visit to Governor Uba Sani. The release of the last student, Treasure Ayuba, debunked claims that he willingly stayed with his captors, emphasizing the lengths to which the community and families went to secure their return.

Source: franktalknow.com

Senses (Child Safeguarding and Protection Principles): In a nation that prides itself as the giant of Africa, the abduction of these children starkly reveals the failures in safeguarding the vulnerable, particularly children of the poor. This situation, as rightly pointed out by Nelson Mandela, reflects the soul of a nation. The Nigerian nation, in this case, appears to have forsaken its children, indicating a dire need for a reformed approach to child safeguarding and protection principles. The incident at Bethel Baptist High School is not just a kidnapping story but a reflection of deeper societal ills that must be addressed.

Stones (Child Safeguarding and Protection Lessons for Parents, Government, and Society): This incident should serve as a catalyst, a springboard for demanding an egalitarian society. The failure of the state in protecting these children and the necessity for private citizens to secure their release by paying a ransom is a scathing indictment of the current state of affairs. It highlights the need for a societal upheaval, challenging parents, government, and society to reevaluate and actively participate in shaping a nation where the welfare and security of children are not just constitutional words but a lived reality. The soul of our nation, as illustrated by the treatment of our children, appears dead and in need of a resurrection. This is a call to action for all to take responsibility and determine the kind of nation we want, demanding a government that truly upholds the welfare and security of its people.