In response to the recent school abduction in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, in collaboration with Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI) and with funding support from UNICEF Nigeria, has launched a comprehensive community-based Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) intervention to promote the recovery, protection, and reintegration of affected children, teachers, families, and communities.
The intervention followed the abduction of dozens of pupils, students, and teachers from schools serving Ahoro-Esinele and Yawota communities, an incident that disrupted education and left many children, parents, and community members experiencing fear, anxiety, and psychological distress. The response forms part of broader efforts to strengthen child protection and ensure that survivors receive timely and appropriate psychosocial care.
The first phase of the intervention involved community mapping and advocacy visits to the affected communities. The exercise brought together parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community influencers, teachers, and other stakeholders to secure community support for the establishment of child-centred MHPSS services.
The advocacy visits also provided an opportunity for government officials and partners to express solidarity with affected families and communities while engaging local stakeholders on the importance of community ownership in supporting children’s recovery. Community members welcomed the initiative and expressed their readiness to work with the Oyo State Government, UNICEF Nigeria, and Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria to ensure that children and families receive the support needed to recover from the traumatic experience.
The mapping exercise further identified community volunteers, para-social workers, teachers, caregivers, and other child protection actors who would serve as the frontline workforce for delivering community-based psychosocial support.
To strengthen community preparedness, the Ministry, Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria, and UNICEF Nigeria organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for the identified community actors.
The training equipped participants with practical knowledge and skills on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Psychological First Aid, child safeguarding, recognizing signs of psychosocial distress, confidentiality, referral pathways, case management, and the establishment of safe spaces for children.
The initiative recognized that the geographical spread of affected communities and the limited availability of professional mental health services make community-based support systems essential for ensuring timely, accessible, and culturally appropriate care. By strengthening the capacity of local volunteers and frontline child protection actors, the programme aims to provide continuous support for children while strengthening community resilience and protection mechanisms.
The overall goal of the intervention is to improve the mental health, psychosocial wellbeing, and protection of children affected by the kidnapping through accessible community-based services. Specific objectives include providing structured psychosocial support and counselling, strengthening referral systems and case management, and equipping community members with the skills needed to identify, support, and refer children experiencing psychosocial distress.
Following the successful release of the abducted victims, the trained community mobilizers immediately commenced community-based psychosocial support activities across the affected communities.
Working alongside para-social workers, teachers, caregivers, and child protection actors, they are providing Psychological First Aid (PFA) to affected children, parents, teachers, and other community members. They are also identifying children experiencing emotional distress and protection risks, facilitating confidential referrals for specialized services, and promoting child safeguarding throughout the recovery process.
The intervention is helping to restore protective environments, strengthen community support networks, and ensure that children affected by the traumatic incident receive appropriate care as they return to school and reintegrate into their communities.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, the Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with UNICEF Nigeria, the Oyo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, and community stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind in the recovery process.
