A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to prioritize the rescue of schoolchildren abducted in Borno State. The lawmaker, representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, made the statement on Tuesday as the children approach 130 days in captivity. The abductions occurred in separate attacks on Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
The schoolchildren were kidnapped in attacks that began on May 15 and June 29 respectively. Reports indicate that about 44 children from Mussa Ward and 36 students from Lassa were taken. However, some reports have given different figures for the number of children still in captivity. The prolonged captivity of the children has sparked concerns and protests from parents and community members.
On Monday, parents and community members from the two communities in Askira/Uba protested the continued detention of the children. They warned that if the children were not rescued within six days, they would take their demonstration to the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The protesters questioned why schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State had been rescued while those taken in Borno were still being held.
Reacting to the situation, Bello El-Rufai described the long captivity of the children as unacceptable. He emphasized that 130 days is far too long for the children to be held captive. The lawmaker praised the security forces for recent successes, including the rescue of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State, and urged them to intensify efforts to free the children still being held in Borno.
The Oyo and Borno abductions reportedly happened on the same day, with the Oyo pupils later rescued after spending almost two months in captivity. El-Rufai's appeal follows similar concerns raised by other stakeholders and citizens. The lawmaker's statement has added to the growing pressure on the government to take decisive action to rescue the kidnapped children.
El-Rufai commended the security forces for their successes elsewhere, including the rescue of the Oyo schoolchildren. He stressed that these successes should encourage authorities to redouble their efforts to bring the Borno children home. The lawmaker warned that the continued captivity of the children should not become another statistic or a forgotten tragedy.
The situation remains a top concern for the government and citizens, with many calling for urgent action to rescue the kidnapped children. The government and security agencies face mounting pressure to act swiftly and ensure the safe release of the children. The incident has also raised questions about the security situation in Borno State and the effectiveness of efforts to protect schools and students.
Key points
- The kidnapped schoolchildren in Borno State have been in captivity for 130 days.
- The abductions occurred in separate attacks on Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.
- The lawmaker, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has urged the government and security agencies to prioritize the rescue of the kidnapped children.
