Nollywood actor Femi Branch has called on Nigerian political figures to cease involving children in their partisan disputes. He issued this appeal in an Instagram video posted on Saturday, following the recurring trend of student kidnappings and the recent liberation of 46 pupils and teachers from Orire, Oyo State.
The group was freed on July 10, 2026, after enduring 56 days of captivity. Branch spoke out following comments made by Governor Seyi Makinde regarding the event. The actor argued that the situation was being used for political leverage and pleaded for the safety of children.
During his message, Branch emphasized that children in Nigeria already face significant hardships, including substandard educational facilities. He noted that the victims of the Orire kidnapping likely suffer from severe trauma after being held for nearly two months. He specifically took issue with Governor Makinde’s suggestion that the abduction was a calculated move linked to his presidential declaration, urging officials to avoid framing such tragedies through a political lens.
