100 days in captivity: Borno elders, families demand rescue of abducted pupils 

Families of abducted schoolchildren and other victims in Borno have called for their immediate rescue and safe return, expressing concern over the continued captivity of their loved ones 100 days after the abduction of 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

 

The demand was made on Friday in Abuja by the Askira-Uba-Uba/Hawul Elders Forum at a press conference marking 100 days since the May 15, 2026 abduction.

 

The forum’s Secretary, Malla Gadzama, who addressed journalists alongside Hon. Midala Balami, the lawmaker representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, and relatives of the abducted persons, appealed to the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Families of abducted schoolchildren and other victims in Borno have called for their immediate rescue and safe return, expressing concern over the continued captivity of their loved ones 100 days after the abduction of 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

 

The demand was made on Friday in Abuja by the Askira-Uba-Uba/Hawul Elders Forum at a press conference marking 100 days since the May 15, 2026 abduction.

 

The forum’s Secretary, Malla Gadzama, who addressed journalists alongside Hon. Midala Balami, the lawmaker representing Askira-Uba/Hawul Federal Constituency, and relatives of the abducted persons, appealed to the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to intensify efforts to secure the victims’ release.

 

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Some relatives of the abducted persons became emotional during the briefing as the forum recounted the circumstances surrounding the abductions and called for urgent government action.

 

Gadzama described the 100-day period as one of “horror, pain and suffering”, saying the families had endured anxiety and uncertainty over the fate of their loved ones.

 

According to him, 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School were abducted on May 15 in Askira-Uba Local Government Area.

 

He noted that schoolchildren and teachers were also abducted in Oyo State on the same day but were subsequently rescued, while the families of the Mussa victims were still awaiting the return of their loved ones.

 

The forum also raised concern over students of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, who were abducted on June 29, 2026, while sitting for National Examinations Council examinations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gadzama said community records indicated that 36 students remained missing following the attack.

 

He also called for the rescue of 38 persons reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri, as well as other victims taken along the Chibok route and other vulnerable routes across Borno State.

 

“These are not statistics. They are children. They are sons and daughters. They are brothers and sisters. They are wives and husbands. They are fathers and mothers. They are human beings with families waiting, praying and crying for them every single day,” he said.

 

The forum appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to mobilise all available national security resources towards the rescue of the victims.

 

“Mr President, these families have waited for 100 days. We ask that the rescue of the Mussa and Lassa students, those abducted along Buratai Road to Maiduguri, and other victims along the Chibok route and across Borno State be treated as an urgent national priority,” Gadzama said.

 

The elders also urged Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, to continue engaging the Federal Government, security agencies and intelligence services to ensure the safe return of the victims.

 

They further called for improved protection for schools, major roads and vulnerable communities to prevent similar incidents.

 

The forum commended the Federal Government and security agencies for the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State.

 

Gadzama said the Oyo victims, who were abducted on May 15, were rescued on July 10 following a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies.

 

He said the operation demonstrated what could be achieved when the rescue of abducted schoolchildren was treated as an urgent priority.

 

“But today we ask: Why should the children and citizens of Borno have to wait longer?” he said.

 

The forum subsequently presented seven demands, including the immediate rescue of the 42 Mussa schoolchildren, the 36 students still missing from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and the 38 persons reportedly abducted along Buratai Road to Maiduguri.

 

It also demanded urgent action to rescue other victims abducted along the Chibok route and other vulnerable routes in the state.

 

The elders called for regular and credible communication with affected families on rescue efforts, increased protection for schools, roads and communities, and a coordinated, intelligence-led and sustained rescue operation involving relevant security and intelligence agencies.

 

The forum acknowledged the challenges facing Nigeria’s security forces and commended personnel for their efforts in protecting citizens.

 

However, it said the prolonged captivity of the victims should not become normalised or lost amid the country’s wider security challenges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The continued captivity of these children and citizens cannot become normal. We cannot allow prolonged abductions to become another statistic in Nigeria’s security crisis. We cannot allow the passage of time to reduce the urgency,” Gadzama said.

 

He also assured the affected families that the forum would continue to advocate for the safe return of their loved ones.

 

“To the families of the abducted, we say: You are not forgotten. Your pain is our pain. Your children are our children. We will continue to speak. We will continue to ask. We will continue to demand action,” he said.

 

The forum urged the Federal and Borno State governments to intensify efforts to secure the release of the victims, stressing that the protection of lives and property remained a fundamental responsibility of government.

 

“Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — bring our children home. Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum — stand with these families and help bring our children home. We demand quick action. We demand equal protection. We demand a determined rescue operation. We demand that our children be brought home,” Gadzama said.

 

Cc: Punch