Families of abducted schoolchildren and other victims in Borno State have renewed calls for urgent government action to secure the safe release of their loved ones, as the captivity of some of the victims enters 100 days.
The families made the demand on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, expressing deep anguish over the continued detention of 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.
The victims were abducted on May 15, 2026. Another 36 students of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, were reportedly abducted on June 29 while sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The families also called for the rescue of 38 persons reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri, as well as victims taken along the Chibok route and other vulnerable communities and highways across the state.
Secretary of the Hawul/Askira-Uba Elders Forum, Malla Gadzama, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, described the past 100 days as a period of unbearable pain, fear and uncertainty.
“Too much time has passed without our children. We have endured sleepless nights, fear and uncertainty, and we are still asking one question: where are our loved ones, and when are they coming home?”
Gadzama appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to deploy all available security and intelligence resources towards rescuing the victims.
He also urged Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to intensify efforts and work closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the safe return of the abducted children.
Families Point to Oyo Rescue
The families cited the recent successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, arguing that the operation demonstrated what could be achieved through coordinated intelligence and decisive action.
“We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies act with urgency. But why should Borno’s children wait this long?” they asked.
They stressed that their demand was not for preferential treatment, but for equal protection and the same level of urgency demonstrated in other rescue operations.
The families demanded the immediate rescue of the 42 victims from Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School, the 36 Lassa students, the 38 persons reportedly abducted along Buratai Road, and other victims held along the Chibok route and other dangerous corridors.
They also called for regular and credible updates from government and security authorities on ongoing rescue efforts.
Beyond the immediate rescue operation, the families demanded stronger security around schools, highways and vulnerable communities, alongside a sustained, intelligence-led operation involving all relevant security and intelligence agencies.
‘This Must Not Become Normal’
The families warned that prolonged abductions must not become normalised or reduced to mere statistics in Nigeria’s security crisis.
“These are not statistics. They are children, parents, siblings, spouses and loved ones. They are human beings whose families are praying and crying every day.”
They said every additional day in captivity deepened the emotional and psychological suffering of affected families.
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Hawul/Askira-Uba Federal Constituency, Midala Balami, sympathised with the families and urged the government to intensify efforts to bring the victims home.
Balami described the situation as devastating, revealing that the abductions had caused severe emotional distress among residents of the constituency.
“Among those people that you are seeing here, you can see a father whose wife and five-month daughter were abducted. As a representative of Askira-Uba, we have seen sleepless nights. It is so devastating that most times, I lose appetite and I hardly find even my peace.”
The families further appealed to Nigerians not to allow the victims to disappear from public attention because of the passage of time.
They called on President Tinubu and Governor Zulum to make the rescue of the abducted children an immediate priority.
“Mr President, bring our children home. Governor Zulum, stand with these families and help bring our children home. We demand quick action, equal protection and a determined rescue operation. 100 days is too long. Bring our children home.”
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