Parents and families of the 78 students and children abducted from two public schools in separate attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, Nigeria, are still grappling with the trauma of their loved ones' disappearance 135 days after the abduction. The affected schools are Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area and Government Secondary School in Lassa, a small town in the same local government area.
On May 15, terrorists on motorcycles invaded Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, abducting 42 pupils, including 10 toddlers aged between 20 months and three years, who were kidnapped from playgrounds in nearby houses. A month later, on June 29, terrorists abducted 36 students and a teacher from the Government Secondary School in Lassa. The Borno State government and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed that a total of 78 children were abducted in the two incidents.
The abduction has left parents and relations in agony, trauma, and uncertainty about the fate of their children. Yohanna Musa Lassa, uncle to one of the kidnapped students, expressed his frustration, stating that the family had sent their children to school hoping they would become better persons in society but now fears that those dreams are shattered. He revealed that his brother, whose son was among the 36 abducted, has been experiencing depression since the incident occurred.
The abduction has also raised concerns about the safety of schools in the region. Borno Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology and Innovations, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, recently decried the attacks on schools and education institutions by terrorists and armed groups, describing them as inimical to the growth of education in the state. Wakilbe assured that the Borno State government is collaborating with the military and other security forces to ensure the rescue of the school children and secure the school environment.
The affected schools were closed and relocated under the Safe Schools Initiative after the abductions. However, it is uncertain if the government plans to reopen the schools soon. Musa Chinda, whose four-year-old daughter was a victim of the mass abduction, expressed concern over the government's silence on the rescue of the children, appealing to President Tinubu to activate a presidential order to rescue the children.
The abduction has also raised concerns about the welfare of the young children, some of whom are still around two years old and may be at risk of diseases, including malnutrition, without their mothers' care. Mrs Saratu Buba, a relation to one of the Mussa parents, urged Nigerians to join the community in prayers, believing that divine intervention with military action will free the 78 abductees.
The incident has sparked anger and frustration among parents and the community, with many calling for urgent action to rescue the children. The Borno State government and security agencies are working together to secure the release of the abducted children, but no rescue has been reported so far.
Key points
- 78 schoolchildren were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State, Nigeria.
- The abduction occurred in two separate incidents at Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School and Government Secondary School in Lassa.
- The children have been in captivity for 135 days, sparking concerns about their welfare and safety.
