A mother and her four children on Monday staged a peaceful protest in the Maitama area of Abuja, calling for urgent action to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and address growing concerns over insecurity affecting pupils across the country.

The protest, captured in a video shared by Arise News on social media, showed the woman and her children, dressed in school uniforms, holding placards as they stood peacefully in the area.

Speaking during the protest, the woman expressed fears over the safety of children in schools.

According to her, she is afraid of taking her children to school and intends to continue the protest for as long as she is able in a bid to draw attention to the plight of abducted pupils and their families.

The demonstration comes amid renewed public concern over school-related kidnappings in parts of the country.

The symbolic protest follows the recent rescue of the sister of a former Minister of Power, who was reportedly abducted while taking her children to school. It also comes as concerns persist over pupils and teachers still being held captive following reported abductions in parts of Oyo and Borno states.

In recent weeks, incidents involving the abduction of schoolchildren and commuters have continued to fuel calls for stronger security measures, particularly around schools and major transport routes.

For many parents, Monday’s protest reflected a growing sense of fear and frustration over the vulnerability of children to criminal attacks, with the protesting mother insisting that the safety of schoolchildren should remain a national priority.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no immediate official reaction to the protest from relevant authorities.

The incident has, however, reignited conversations about school safety and the urgent need to protect children from the threat of kidnapping and other security challenges across the country.