By Aaron Ossai
Families and concerned citizens in Borno State have renewed calls for the immediate rescue of dozens of schoolchildren and other residents abducted in separate attacks, as the victims’ captivity reaches 100 days.
At a press conference on Friday, the group said families of the abducted victims had endured 100 days of “horror, pain and suffering” and demanded urgent action from the Federal Government and the Borno State Government.
Among those still missing are 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School, who were abducted on May 15 in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The group also raised concern over 36 students of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, who were reportedly abducted on June 29 while writing their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
It further called for the rescue of 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri, as well as other victims taken along the Chibok route and other vulnerable roads across the state.
The speakers stressed that the victims should not be reduced to statistics, describing them as children, parents, spouses and members of families who have spent months living with uncertainty over their loved ones’ whereabouts.
Direct appeal to Tinubu
The group appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to mobilise all available national security resources towards securing the release of the abducted children and civilians.
“Mr. President, these families have waited for 100 days,” the statement said, while acknowledging the security challenges facing the country and the sacrifices of security personnel.
It nevertheless argued that the continued captivity of innocent civilians could not be allowed to become another unresolved case in Nigeria’s security crisis.
The group specifically asked the President to make the rescue of the Mussa and Lassa students, the Buratai Road victims and other abductees across Borno an urgent national priority.
Zulum urged to intensify pressure
The group also called on Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to use the full weight of his office to push for the immediate rescue of the victims.
It urged the governor to work closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and intelligence services to pursue every available avenue for the safe return of the abducted persons.
“These are the children of Borno. They are the sons and daughters of our communities. Their parents are waiting. Their families are suffering,” the statement said.
‘If it could be done in Oyo, it can be done in Borno’
The group cited the rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State as evidence that coordinated rescue operations could succeed when treated as an urgent priority.
According to the statement, the Oyo victims, who were abducted on May 15, were rescued on July 10 in a coordinated, intelligence-led operation involving multiple security agencies.
The group commended the government and security agencies for the operation but questioned why the abducted children and other victims in Borno should continue to wait.
It stressed that it was not seeking preferential treatment for Borno victims, but “equal protection under the law” and the same urgency and commitment to human life.
Seven demands
The group listed seven immediate demands, including the he safe rescue and return of the 42 Mussa pupils and students, the rescue of the 36 Lassa students still reported missing, the immediate rescue of the 38 persons reportedly abducted along Buratai Road to Maiduguri, urgent action to rescue other victims abducted along the Chibok route and other vulnerable routes, regular and credible communication with affected families about rescue efforts, Increased security around schools, major roads and vulnerable communities, and a sustained, intelligence-led operation involving relevant security and intelligence agencies.
‘This must not become normal’
The group warned against allowing prolonged abductions to become normalised amid Nigeria’s wider security challenges.
It said the passage of time must not diminish public attention to the victims, insisting that their lives, education, families and futures remained important.
“To the families of the abducted, we say: You are not forgotten,” the statement said, pledging to continue demanding action until every victim is safely returned.
The group ended with a direct message to the country’s political leadership: “Mr. President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — bring our children home.”
It similarly urged Governor Zulum to stand with the affected families and help secure the victims’ release.
“We demand quick action. We demand equal protection. We demand a determined rescue operation. We demand that our children be brought home. Enough is enough.
