*MAKINDE’S COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION ISSUES SOMBRE STATEMENT TO COMMEMORATE 2026 CHILDREN’S DAY*

On this year’s Children’s Day celebration,my heart is heavy because some members of society with hearts of stone, some of them adults, some of them children , all misguided, brainwashed and with no moral compass, who were not taught about the sanctity of human life, who were not taught the difference between̈ right and wrong from an eaŕĺy age so much so that they willfully committed the dastardly act of kidnapping 46 adults and chldren, killing 3 innocent adults in the process, turning 3 women to unprepared *Widows* and numerous children into *Paternal Orphans* including the young 13 year old teenage girl sobbing like her world had ended who i tried to calm down in the picture taken at the home of one of the late victims,above

Truly, her world ,that of her mother( a jobless mother of several children ) and her other siblings as they know it has ended.Why? because the life of their father/husband , Mr. a Mathematics Teacher and the sole Breadwinner of his family has been cut short in his prime by misguided, brainwashed human beings.

The heart of a Motĥer is ĥeàvy because indeed, in line with the provisions of the *Child Rights Law of Oyo State*,the welfare of ALL children born or livìng in Oyo State from a day old to just under 18 years are the responsibility of the Commissioner for Women Affairs who in turn holds that responsibility in trust for the Executive Governor of tĥe state

I seize the opportunity of this sombre season to commiserate with our father; His Excellency Governor Makinde( FNSE) and our mother; Her Excellency Engr Tamunominini Makinde (FNSE) who have been very sad since the dastardly kidnap of 46 children and adults which led to the untimely death of 3 adults .His Excellency has gone over and beyond the call of duty to put in place all neccesary protocols and interventions in concert with the requisite security agencies and other levers of governance to ensure that the kidnapped children and adults are rescued without collateral damage

I raffirm the government’s unwavering commitment under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, to the protection, welfare, education, and overall development of every child, noting that children remain the most valuable foundation of a stronger and more prosperous society.

If there is no other takeaway from this incident, a learning point all people of good will need to take from this incident is one of stronger resolve to all to commit to having the number of children we can take care of, to teach and nurture our children to develop a sense of right and wrong( a moral compass)

If the terrorists who perpetrated this grievous harm to society were nurtured with love and inculcated with the right trainnimg ( both temporal and spiritual) they would realise that the lives of other human beings are sacred and would never grievously abuse fellow human beings like they have done in Oriire and other parts of our dear Country till date

My heartfelt prayer is threefold:

1.For comfort & fortitude to bear an irreparable loss for the 3 bereaved families

2.The Almighty to crown the efforts of His Excellency and all Security Agencies/officials to ensure a swift rescue and safe return of the 46 people( children and adults) still in custody of the terrorists without any collateral damage

3.An elimination of all root causes which enable terrorism in all its manifestations to thrive in our Country

As the state observes both Children’s Day and the spiritual atmosphere of the Ileya season, I call for continued prayers and collective vigilance,praying to the Almighty to touch the hearts of the abductors to release all children and adults in their custody unharmed.

I further pray that this sacred season brings peace, healing, and answers to our positive desires and supplications for every home across Oyo State in particular and Nigeria at large

*Hon. (Mrs) Toyin BALOGUN*

COMMISSIONER FOR WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL INCLUSION OYO STATE