‘Leave Innocent Children Out of Dirty Political Games’ — Nollywood Actor Femi Branch Tells Nigerian Politicians

• Nollywood actor Femi Branch has appealed to Nigerian politicians to stop dragging innocent children into political disputes following the release of the abducted Oriire schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State.

Nollywood actor Femi Branch has appealed to Nigerian politicians to stop playing politics with the lives of children, following the release of the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The actor made the appeal in a video shared on his Instagram page on Saturday amid public reactions to the rescue of the schoolchildren, who regained their freedom after spending 56 days in captivity.

The victims, who were abducted on May 15, 2026, were rescued on Friday after a coordinated security operation involving the Nigerian Army and other security agencies.

Reacting to comments made by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde about the incident, Branch accused politicians of politicising the abduction and urged them to keep innocent children out of political battles.

“I just want to make an appeal and beg us in this country. I’m not directing this to anybody, but I’m begging all of us that whatever dirty politics that we’re all playing, can we just leave the innocent children out of it,” he said.

The actor lamented the challenges facing children in Nigeria, arguing that they already endure poor learning conditions and should not become victims of political rivalries.

“The children in this country are suffering enough. The so-called schools they are going to, the quality of the education and everything is scrambled. They are suffering enough. Can we just leave them out of this dirty politics that we’re playing?” he said.

Branch noted that the abducted children had spent nearly two months in captivity and would likely require emotional and psychological support.

“Innocent children were in the bush for 56 days. Those kids must be traumatised by now and needed to be attended to,” he added.

Referring to Governor Makinde’s remarks, the actor said the governor had suggested the timing of the abduction raised political questions, but maintained that children should never be caught in political disputes.

“The governor came out and said he declared to be president at 4 p.m. and by 9 a.m. the next morning is when they packed the children and the teachers away, thereby insinuating that it was a political game. Can we just leave these poor children out of our dirty politics? Please, I’m not attacking or calling out anybody, I’m just appealing to us to leave the innocent children out of our madness, please,” Branch stated.