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Nigeria’s First Lady was facing online attacks on Wednesday after posting a celebratory Children’s Day message that made no mention of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers still held captive by kidnappers in Oyo State.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu took to X to mark the annual celebration, urging young Nigerians to “take ownership of today in a responsible and purposeful manner”, build character and discipline, and commit to learning, while warning against “destructive or unrealistic paths.”
MESSAGE BY THE FIRST LADY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HER EXCELLENCY, SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, ON CHILDREN’S DAY 2026 (WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026).
As we celebrate this year’s Children’s Day, I extend my well wishes and heartfelt love to every child across our great… pic.twitter.com/ptfGKbBJDA
— Sen Oluremi Tinubu, CON (@SenRemiTinubu) May 27, 2026
But the post, which featured an official poster with her portrait, made no mention of the dozens of students and teachers abducted on May 15 from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
About 46 people, including 39 students, some just two years old, and seven teachers, from three schools in Oyo State. One teacher was killed on the spot. Another was later beheaded. Several victims, including toddlers, are still missing.
But within hours, her post was flooded with largely negative replies, photos of missing children, and demands to “#BringBackOurChildren.”
User @davidikpawona_1 responded with graphic images of children with severe injuries, writing, “Are these the children you are wishing happy children’s day?
“These young and innocent ones who don’t even know anything yet but are being constantly tortured by barbarians in the forest?
“Where is your soul? What has happened to your conscience? Tell your husband; you both need to leave us alone. Leave us alone very fast. Tell him he has failed and we don’t want this forced relationship to continue. Away!”
Credit: Daily Post
Another user, @MR_MMXXVI, expressed dismay at the First Lady’s apparent indifference.
“With all due respect, I do not know you, Ma, but as the so-called Mother of the nation, you have failed these children,” he wrote.
“It’s alarming that the lives of Nigerians have become so worthless under your watch. Fundamental human rights of every Nigerian is being violated daily, and the government, the presumed leadership has nothing to say.”
He added, “There is nothing happy about today. And if there is still a bit of conscience left in your government, we’re not asking for much – Just bring back our Children. Just please bring back our children. It’s children’s day for God’s sake.”
User @Abrahampelumi7 said he was “utterly disturbed” that the First Lady failed to even acknowledge the crisis.
“I opened the thread expecting to even see you fake an empathy by addressing the issue on ground. But you totally ghosted it, like they don’t matter. I am utterly disturbed,” he wrote.
“No sympathy, no empathy whatsoever. I am seriously disturbed! And we will still vote this people in the coming election. Is that how brainwashed the citizens are?”
The backlash comes from the May 15 coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area.
Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the schools around 9:30 am, shooting sporadically and abducting approximately 46 people, including 39 students, some as young as two years old, and seven teachers.
Assistant Headmaster Joel Adesiyan was killed during the attack. Another teacher, Michael Oyedokun, was later beheaded in captivity. Several victims, including toddlers, remain missing.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attacks and ordered security agencies to intensify rescue operations. However, as of Children’s Day on May 27, many victims were still being held captive.
The First Lady’s office had not issued a response to the criticism at the time of this report. Her Children’s Day message remained on her X account, still attracting negative replies hours after it was posted.
