CAIDOV Calls For Release Of Children In Captivity On Children’s Day

The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of children held in captivity across Nigeria as the country marks the 2026 Children’s Day celebration.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said Children’s Day should be a moment to honour the rights, dignity and future of every Nigerian child, while also drawing attention to the plight of children affected by kidnapping, armed conflict and other criminal activities.

CAIDOV described children as the embodiment of hope, innocence and national renewal, reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights of children to grow up in safe, nurturing and violence-free environments.

Executive Director of CAIDOV, Gbenga Soloki, expressed concern over the continued captivity of children in different parts of the country, stressing that no child should live in fear or bondage.

“On this Children’s Day, we make an urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of all children held in captivity across Nigeria,” Soloki said.

“No child should mark their day in fear, isolation, or bondage. Their freedom, safety, and right to education and family life must be non-negotiable.”

The organisation urged federal and state governments, security agencies, traditional rulers and civil society groups to strengthen coordinated efforts aimed at rescuing, rehabilitating and reintegrating affected children.

According to CAIDOV, protecting children is a collective national responsibility and a critical investment in the future of the country.

“Protecting our children is protecting the future of Nigeria. Their lives matter, their voices matter, and their freedom cannot wait,” Soloki added.

CAIDOV also reiterated its commitment to advocacy, intervention and partnership in addressing injustice and domestic violence affecting children and vulnerable persons nationwide.