'No Governor Should Sleep While Children Remain in Forest' — Chief CBN Onwuasoanya

Presidential aspirant, Chief CBN Onwuasoanya Ezendigbo, has condemned the continued abduction of children in Nigeria, describing the situation as a national disgrace and calling for decisive action by all levels of government until every abducted child is rescued.

Speaking on the country's security challenges, Onwuasoanya argued that elected leaders should not carry on with normal government business while innocent children remain in captivity.

"How can a governor and senators in Nigeria sleep while children are still in the forest? There should be no parliament until they are rescued," he said.

He maintained that Nigeria possesses the military capability and resources needed to secure the release of abducted victims, insisting that the nation's security agencies must intensify operations until every child is safely returned.

"We have the Air Force. We have the resources. No marshal should rest. No police officer should rest until they bring those children back home," he stated.

Describing the situation as "the highest disgrace" to the country, Onwuasoanya argued that effective leadership begins with integrity and accountability.

"If I am pure, the people around me will also be pure," he said.

Outlining how he would respond as president, Onwuasoanya declared that he and members of his cabinet, alongside state governors, would remain fully engaged in rescue efforts until the victims were freed.

"As president, myself, my cabinet and the governors will live in the forest until those children are rescued," he said.

He further suggested that the persistence of insecurity raises questions about vested interests benefiting from the crisis.

"If people are not benefitting from insecurity, it should not be this bad," he remarked.

Onwuasoanya added that any leader who fails to secure the freedom of abducted children should accept responsibility.

"If I could not get them rescued, then I deserve to resign," he declared.

He concluded by stressing that Nigeria's armed forces have a constitutional responsibility to defend citizens and expressed confidence that every forest harbouring kidnappers could be thoroughly combed to rescue the victims alive.

"That forest will be combed until the children are brought out alive," he affirmed.