Mental health experts have warned that the increasing wave of school attacks and kidnappings across Nigeria could expose children to serious psychological consequences, including depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and long-term emotional instability.
The psychiatrists cautioned that beyond the immediate fear and distress associated with violent incidents, children who directly experience kidnappings or are repeatedly exposed to reports of such attacks may suffer lasting mental health challenges that could negatively affect their academic performance, social relationships and overall development.
They further noted that exposure to violence during childhood may increase the risk of aggression, substance abuse and, in some cases, make vulnerable children susceptible to recruitment into criminal and extremist groups later in life.
The experts warned that unless urgent psychological interventions are implemented, Nigeria could witness a significant rise in mental health disorders among children and adolescents, adding to the more than 60 million Nigerians already estimated to be living with mental health conditions.
The concerns come amid a series of recent school attacks in different parts of the country, including the abduction of pupils in Oyo and Borno states.
Reports indicate that 42 pupils were kidnapped on May 13 and 14 after armed men attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Similarly, on May 15, gunmen invaded Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School, Esiele, all located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting more than 40 schoolchildren aged between two and 16 years, alongside teachers and a school principal.
Days after the incident, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, was reportedly killed by the kidnappers, heightening fears among parents and education stakeholders.
The growing insecurity in schools has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of educational institutions. A recent analysis revealed that at least 603 pupils and teachers were kidnapped in seven major school abductions recorded between March 2024 and May 2026, despite the Federal Government’s N145 billion Safe Schools Initiative.
Commenting on the mental health implications of the attacks, a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Jos and former President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Prof. Taiwo Obindo, stated that the effects of school kidnappings extend far beyond temporary fear.
According to him, such incidents can significantly disrupt children’s emotional well-being, reduce their motivation to attend school and impair their academic performance.
“Some children, even teachers, may develop depression; others may develop other forms of anxiety disorders, reduced motivation to go to school, and education generally will be affected,” Obindo said.
The psychiatrist explained that individuals exposed to traumatic incidents often develop post-traumatic stress disorder, leaving them fearful, emotionally distressed and uncertain about engaging in everyday activities.
He added that even children who live far from the affected communities could experience psychological distress through constant exposure to reports of violence and insecurity.
Speaking on the long-term consequences, Obindo warned that children who survive kidnappings or witness violent attacks may carry the emotional burden into adulthood.
“Their trust in the system, school, the country, and the environment will surely be impacted,” he said.
“Even before they become adults, we’re talking about people being actively distressed and experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. Subsequently, we’re talking about them having depression and trust issues.”
He urged parents, teachers and caregivers to pay close attention to behavioural changes among children, noting that early identification of warning signs could facilitate prompt intervention.
“Some of them will become unhappy for no particular reason. Some of them may get easily irritated, getting angry with little or no provocation. So, all these will impact their emotional well-being,” Obindo explained.
The former APN president further stressed the need for psychological screening and support services for children returning from captivity and those residing in communities affected by insecurity.
“The first thing is to make sure that all of them, particularly those who are kidnapped, receive some psychological support when they come out, and also children in schools around the area,” he stated.
He recommended that schools organise counselling sessions and educate teachers and parents on the symptoms associated with trauma and the available pathways for obtaining professional assistance.
Also speaking, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr. Samuel Aladejare, warned that survivors of kidnappings and violent attacks remain vulnerable to a range of mental health disorders.
“Some will develop mental health issues based on that particular experience. Issues like dissociation, where they separate their being from their experience, and sometimes they can’t even talk and they are dazed. And then things like PTSD, anxiety, depressive disorders, substance abuse, these issues could be an outcome of this kind of kidnapping experience,” he said.
Aladejare noted that repeated exposure to violence and interactions with armed criminals could shape children’s perceptions of society and influence their future behavioural choices.
“A very terrible possibility is that such children could now become easy recruits for crime. Armed robbery, stealing, even future bandits and terrorist groups in the future, they can become easy recruits because they saw such things being done,” he warned.
The psychiatrist also explained that prolonged exposure to fear and uncertainty could interfere with children’s cognitive development and educational attainment.
According to him, children who constantly live in fear often struggle with concentration, memory retention, planning and organisation, thereby affecting their academic performance.
Aladejare further noted that traumatic experiences could trigger severe psychiatric conditions in individuals who already possess underlying vulnerabilities.
He advised parents and caregivers to remain vigilant for warning signs such as social withdrawal, refusal to eat, persistent nightmares, sleep disturbances, excessive fear, unusual irritability and sudden communication difficulties.
“These are signs that we want to look out for which may give an indication that the experiences have taken a lot more toll on them than it should,” he said.
The consultant psychiatrist emphasised that creating a safer society remains one of the most effective ways of protecting children from the devastating psychological consequences of violence.
“There should be appropriate plans for mental health rehabilitation. We are talking about clinical psychologists or psychiatrists who have knowledge of psychological first aid, who can engage with children in regular therapy sessions to help them properly process those experiences, so that it does not stay with them in the future,” he added.
