Nollywood actor Kunle Remi has broken his silence on Nigeria’s deteriorating security situation, sharing an emotional message that has resonated deeply with millions of Nigerians online.
Reacting to the disturbing reports from Oyo State where schoolchildren and teachers were kidnapped and remain missing after nearly two weeks, Kunle took to social media to express what many Nigerians are feeling but struggle to put into words. “As I settle in for the night, I can’t help but think… remember there are children sleeping in forests, imagine the cold, the bugs, the fear, the discomfort. Remember there is a mother holding her baby, helpless. Parents praying for safety. Schools living in fear,” he wrote. The actor directed pointed criticism at the continuation of political campaigns and election preparations amid the ongoing crisis, questioning how society could move forward as though nothing was wrong. His post struck a national nerve, with fellow celebrities including Ruth Kadiri and Toyin Abraham also recently adding their voices to the growing chorus demanding that protecting lives take priority over political ambition. “May we never become so used to tragedy that we stop feeling it,” Kunle concluded, in a warning against the dangerous normalization of violence and suffering in Nigeria.