Neglected Almajiri kids of 1980s now fuel Insecurity, Ex-Naval Chief says

Former naval chief Vice Admiral Samuel Olajide Afolyan has attributed Nigeria’s escalating insecurity to years of leadership neglect, highlighting that many Almajiri children he met in the 1980s have become armed criminals today.

Afolayan expressed these views at OSI Day 2025 while discussing the lasting impacts of insufficient education, social support, and moral guidance. He urged Nigerian politicians to seriously consider their duties to society, particularly regarding vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and impoverished women.

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“I encourage our politicians to reevaluate their contributions to improving the lives of our elderly, women, and children,” he said. According to the retired naval officer, the nation is now facing consequences for its failure to adequately educate and guide its youth. “Nigeria clearly illustrates that our failure to educate the young will result in unrest,” Afolyan warned.

He expressed concern that many children lacking care and educational opportunities are now labeled as criminals. “Today, younger children are often referred to as bandits,” he remarked. Reflecting on his own upbringing in the early 1980s, Afolyan noted that the shift from neglected children to armed individuals could have been prevented.

“I recall my schooling days in the early 80s — 1981, 1982. The children we grew up with in our neighborhoods are now the armed men of today,” he stated, attributing the situation to chronic leadership failure. “This reflects a failure of leadership.

Our leaders did not support the proper upbringing and guidance of these children.” His statements contributed to an increasing demand at OSI Day 2025 for long-term strategies to address insecurity through education reform, youth empowerment, and ongoing social investment, rather than relying solely on reactive security measures.