The parents of 78 schoolchildren abducted by insurgents in Borno State have taken their protest to Abuja after the Federal Government failed to respond to their six-day ultimatum to rescue their children. The children have spent over 136 days in captivity. The parents plan to storm the Presidential Villa to demand the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. They will remain in Abuja until they are granted an audience with the President. The abduction occurred in two separate incidents, with 42 school pupils taken in Mussa on May 15 and 36 students in Lassa on June 29.
The six-day deadline issued by the parents to the Federal Government expired without any official communication on the whereabouts of the children or efforts being made to secure their release. The Chairman of the Abducted Children’s Parents Association, Ishaku Suya, said the families met to review the situation and finalize arrangements for the planned protest in Abuja. The parents are aware that President Tinubu is currently out of the country and may have a busy schedule upon his return, but they insist on pursuing their demand.
The chairman expressed frustration over the government's response to abductions in different parts of the country. He noted that the government deployed tracking drones and top military brass to handle the rescue operation in Oyo State, where over 40 students and teachers were abducted on May 15. However, this level of response was not seen in the case of the Borno children, despite knowing they are in the Damboa forest. The chairman also mentioned that the option of negotiating with the children's abductors has not been explored.
The Borno children were kidnapped on the same day as the Oyo abduction, but the Oyo victims were released after spending 56 days in captivity. The chairman said the last contact the families had with a government official was during a meeting with Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, who assured them that efforts would be made to secure the children's safe release. However, there has been no further communication with the families since then.
The planned Abuja protest is the parents' way of drawing the attention of the Federal Government and the wider public to their plight. The chairman appealed to residents of Borno State and Nigerians across the country, particularly journalists, to support the families by amplifying their demand for the safe return of the children. He pleaded with them to feel the excruciating pain the parents are enduring.
The parents are determined to remain in Abuja until they receive a clear response from the Federal Government on concrete steps being taken to secure the release of their children. They are prepared to stay at the Presidential Villa until they are given an opportunity to meet the President. The chairman said they need to plan carefully, considering the resources required to settle their families back home and cover expenses incurred in Abuja.
The parents' protest highlights the ongoing issue of child abductions in Nigeria and the need for the government to take decisive action to prevent such incidents and ensure the safe release of victims. The incident has sparked concerns about the security situation in the country, particularly in the North. The government's response to the abduction and the parents' protest will be closely watched by Nigerians and the international community.
Key points
- Parents of abducted Borno children take protest to Abuja after FG fails to respond to six-day ultimatum.
- The children have spent over 136 days in captivity, with 42 school pupils taken in Mussa on May 15 and 36 students in Lassa on June 29.
- The parents are determined to remain in Abuja until they receive a clear response from the Federal Government on concrete steps being taken to secure the release of their children.
