JUNE 12: When It is more than twelve, by Niyi AJALA

Every June 12, Nigeria pauses to celebrate democracy, freedom, and the sacrifices of heroes who fought for the nation’s democratic journey. It is a day that reminds us that the voice of the people matters and that liberty is worth defending.

Yet, as we celebrate June 12 this year, a painful question confronts us: What does June 12 mean to those whose freedom has been taken away by bandits and kidnappers?

In recent times, insecurity has continued to cast a dark shadow across the country. From the North to the South-West, criminal gangs have turned innocent citizens into commodities, abducting them for ransom and leaving families in anguish. The growing wave of kidnappings has made many Nigerians prisoners within their own country.

The recent abduction of several people in Ogbomoso is a painful reminder of this reality. Today, the number of those kidnapped is more than twelve. Sadly, they have now spent more than twelve days in captivity. Even more heartbreaking is the report that some of them did not survive to see the twelfth day of their ordeal.

As the nation celebrates June 12, their families are not celebrating. While speeches are being made and democratic achievements are being highlighted, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children, and friends are counting days of uncertainty, fear, and tears. For them, June 12 is not merely a date on the calendar; it is a painful reminder that their loved ones remain in captivity.

The symbolism is striking. June 12 stands for freedom, yet many Nigerians remain deprived of theirs. We celebrate democracy, yet citizens are unable to travel safely on some roads or live without fear of abduction. We honour heroes of democracy, yet there are ordinary men and women whose daily struggle for survival and freedom deserves recognition.

Those kidnapped in Ogbomoso and elsewhere are also heroes in their own way. They are unwilling participants in a battle against insecurity. Their courage, endurance, and the resilience of their families deserve our prayers and our support. As we mark June 12, we must not forget them.

The true spirit of June 12 should compel government at all levels to redouble efforts to secure lives and property. Democracy is meaningful only when citizens can enjoy its most basic dividend: safety. Freedom is incomplete when innocent people remain in the hands of criminals.

As Nigerians commemorate another June 12, let us remember those who cannot celebrate because they are still waiting for freedom. Let us remember those who lost their lives before the twelfth day of captivity. Let us remember the families whose hearts remain heavy despite the festivities.

And above all, let us hope and pray that those still in captivity will return home safely. Until they regain their freedom, the celebration of June 12 remains, for many families, a reminder that the struggle for liberty in Nigeria is far from over.