Health
Kidnappings, school attacks may cause depression, anxiety in children — Psychiatrists
School attacks, kidnappings and the worsening insecurity in the country are putting children at risk of depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, trust issues and post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health experts have warned.
The psychiatrists said that beyond the immediate fear and distress caused by kidnappings and violent attacks, many affected children and those who heard about the incident may struggle with emotional instability, memory problems and difficulties relating to others long after the incidents have ended.
They further stated that exposure to extreme violence at an early age could affect children’s mental development, increase the risk of substance abuse and aggression, and in some cases, make them vulnerable to recruitment into criminal and violent groups.
The experts warned that without urgent interventions to address the psychological toll of insecurity on children, Nigeria could witness a further increase in mental health disorders, adding to the over 60 million people already affected nationwide.
In interviews with PUNCH Healthwise, they advised teachers, parents and caregivers to watch out for signs such as withdrawal from activities children once enjoyed, poor academic performance, irritability, persistent fear, confusion and emotional distress, and seek psychological support early.
The psychiatrists’ warning comes amid recent school invasions and kidnappings in Oyo and Borno states.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that 42 pupils were kidnapped on May 13 and 14 after bandits attacked schools in Askira Uba and Chibok Local Government Areas of Borno State.
On May 15, bandits stormed Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School, Esiele, and LA Primary School, Esiele, all in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, abducting over 40 schoolchildren aged between two and 16 years, alongside teachers and a school principal.
Days later, one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun of Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, was killed by the bandits.
While the recent abductions have triggered protests and calls for the release of the victims, a recent PUNCH analysis found that at least 603 pupils and teachers were kidnapped in seven major school abductions between March 2024 and May 2026, despite the Federal Government’s N145bn Safe Schools Initiative.
Commenting on the issue, a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Jos and former President of the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria, Prof Taiwo Obindo, said the impact of school abductions extends beyond temporary fear, affecting children’s willingness to attend school, academic performance and overall mental wellbeing.
He explained that many children and adults exposed to such incidents could develop post-traumatic stress disorder, leaving them fearful, confused and uncertain about daily activities.
Obindo added that even children living far from affected communities could experience psychological distress through exposure to reports of violent attacks.
He noted that insecurity could trigger depression, anxiety disorders and reduced motivation to attend school among pupils and teachers.
“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,” he said.
Speaking on the long-term implications, the psychiatrist said children directly affected by kidnappings and violent attacks could experience lasting psychological damage that may persist into adulthood.
The former APN president added that many affected children may struggle with trust issues and difficulties relating to others long after the traumatic events have ended.
“Their (the children’s) trust in the system, school, the country, and the environment will surely be impacted.
“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, we’re talking about them having trust issues,” he said.
Obindo urged teachers and caregivers to watch out for poor academic performance, withdrawal from social interactions, confusion, irritability and emotional instability in children.
“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,” he stated.
The psychiatrist stressed the need for immediate psychological support and screening for students and communities affected by insecurity-related incidents.
“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 said.
He urged schools to organise counselling sessions and provide information on symptoms to watch for and where to seek help.
Also speaking, a Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Samuel Aladejare, said survivors of kidnapping and violent attacks were at risk of developing mental health conditions.
“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 warned that exposure to armed criminals and violence could shape children’s future behaviour and leave some vulnerable to criminal recruitment later in life.
“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 said.
The psychiatrist further noted that prolonged exposure to fear and stress could affect children’s emotional balance and cognitive development.
He explained that children living under persistent fear may struggle with concentration, memory, planning and organisation, leading to poor academic performance.
Aladejare added that traumatic experiences could trigger severe psychiatric disorders in individuals who are already vulnerable.
Speaking on warning signs, he urged parents and caregivers to pay attention to children who suddenly stop talking, refuse to eat, experience sleep disturbances, suffer recurring nightmares, become excessively fearful or display unusual irritability.
“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 psychiatrist stressed that creating a safe society remains the most effective way of protecting children from the 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.
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