Nigerians in Canada have called on their host government to intervene in incessant kidnappings in Nigeria, just as they justified the reasons for their recent protest in Toronto.
The Initiator/Coordinator of Bring Back Our Children, Otunba Kemi Agbeke Olanrewaju, explained that Nigerians in Canada were concerned over the rampant kidnappings in Nigeria.
According to her, the protest was to seek the Canadian government’s supporting in tackling the problem.
Olanrewaju said: “We are here regarding our children being kidnapped. The children have been kidnapped by the bandits since over four weeks ago. And this is not the first time they’ve been kidnapping people in Nigeria.
“They’ve kidnapped people around the world, around the cities. Borno, South West, East, Eastern parts, Northern parts. They’ve been kidnapping people.”
She added: “But this one is very, very terrible. They’ve kidnapped two years, starting from the range of two years old to 14 years old. Our children went to school; they never come back. Imagine, children are not safe in Nigeria. We are calling on the government of Nigeria to please come to our aid. We are tired, enough is enough.
“Nigeria is bleeding right now,” Olanrewaju declared, adding: “They should please set our children free. The teachers have been kidnapped, together with the children. One has been beheaded, imagine. One child has been killed in the den of the kidnappers. We are calling on the Canadian government to please support us.”
She further pleaded: “Please, please, rescue our children and teachers in the hands of the kidnappers. Bring back our children, now and alive. It’s about the failure of our nation, Nigeria. We will not be silent. We will not look away. We will continue to speak, organise, and advocate until our children are returned and meaningful action is taken.”
Similarly, Toyin Adebola, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Canadian Association, stated at the rally that the Nigerians in diaspora were tired of the incessant kidnapping in Nigeria, which she described as heartbreaking.
Adebola stated: “Canadians, we’re standing here under the sun, not because we’re comfortable, but because it is a need, because we are mothers, because we also originated from the nation of Nigeria where our children in schools, the teachers in the schools are being kidnapped on a daily basis.”
She lamented that several fellow Nigerians have been kidnapped over the years and that nothing was being done by the government.
“We are tired. We are no longer proud to be called Nigerians, because this is so heartbreaking.
The land is bleeding. We are tired. We are tired,” Adebola further bemoaned, adding: “As citizens, we are tired. As fathers, we are tired. We need the government of Canada to please step up and push our Nigerian government”.
