Parents and community members of Mussa and Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have expressed frustration over the government's perceived inaction in rescuing their abducted children. The children were seized during a wave of abductions that began on May 15, 2026, and have now spent over 130 days in the hands of insurgents. A total of 80 children were abducted, with 44 from Mussa Ward and 36 from Lassa schools.
The chairman of the parents, Ishaku Suya, has issued a direct and emotional appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to rescue their children. Suya drew a comparison with the recent rescue of abducted children in Oyo State, stating that the president should extend similar urgency to their children in the northeast. He warned that if the children are not rescued, the parents will storm the Presidential Villa in Abuja within six days.
A grieving mother, Josphin Yohanna, lamented the alleged disparity in the government's response to the abduction of school children in different regions. She noted that the swift rescue of abducted children in Oyo State is clear proof that the Federal Government possesses the operational capacity to act decisively. Yohanna questioned why similar urgency was not extended to their children in the northeast.
Dr. Midala Usman Balami, the House of Representatives member representing Askira/Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency, has condemned the prolonged silence and lack of concrete action. Balami noted that the victims have suffered for more than four months and revealed that he had already moved a motion regarding the tragedy in the National Assembly.
Balami urged both the Federal and Borno State governments to deploy all available security resources to rescue the abducted children. He emphasized that the situation concerns the lives of innocent citizens who have suffered immensely in the region. Another parent also noted that their children were abducted at the same time as those in Oyo, but the Oyo children were rescued because they defied the government's call to be patient.
The parents have vowed not to back down, citing feelings of being treated like foreigners in their own country for being law-abiding. As of press time, the Presidency has yet to issue an official response to the ultimatum. The situation remains tense, with the parents counting down the days to their planned protest.
The abduction of the pupils has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for immediate action to rescue the children. The government's response, or lack thereof, has been criticized, with many questioning the disparity in the treatment of abducted children in different regions. The fate of the 80 abducted pupils remains uncertain.
Key points
- Parents of abducted Borno pupils threaten to storm Aso Rock if children aren't rescued within six days.
- Government's inaction sparks frustration among parents and community members.
- Disparity in government's response to abductions in different regions sparks concerns.
