The families of 116 persons abducted in different parts of Borno State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babagana Zulum to urgently intensify efforts to secure the immediate and safe release of their loved ones.
The families, who expressed anguish over the prolonged captivity of schoolchildren, parents and other residents, made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja, where they called for renewed and coordinated action by the Federal and Borno State governments, security agencies and intelligence services.
They specifically demanded the immediate rescue of 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in the Askira-Uba Local Government Area, who were abducted on May 15, 2026.
The families also called for the urgent release of 36 students of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, who were abducted on June 29 while sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
In addition, they demanded urgent action to rescue 38 persons reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri, as well as other victims abducted along the Chibok route and other vulnerable roads and communities across Borno State.
According to the families, the victims have spent months in captivity, leaving their relatives to endure what they described as prolonged pain, fear and uncertainty.
The Secretary of the Hawul/Askira-Uba Elders Forum, Malla Gadzama, who spoke on behalf of the affected families, said the prolonged captivity had subjected households to sleepless nights and emotional distress as they continued to wait for the return of their loved ones.
“Too much time has passed without our children. We have endured sleepless nights, fear and uncertainty, and we are still asking one question: where are our loved ones, and when are they coming home?” Gadzama said.
He appealed to Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to mobilise all available national security resources towards rescuing the abducted schoolchildren and other victims.
“Mr President, these families have waited long enough. Governor Zulum, these are the children of Borno. Their parents are waiting,” he said.
The families urged Zulum to deploy the full weight of his office towards securing the victims’ release and to work closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and intelligence services to explore every possible avenue for their safe return.
They said the prolonged captivity of the victims had deepened the anguish of their families, insisting that immediate and decisive action was required to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
The families also cited the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State as evidence that coordinated and intelligence-led operations could secure the release of victims held in captivity.
While commending the Nigerian government and security agencies for the Oyo rescue operation, they questioned why abducted children and other victims in Borno should continue to remain in captivity for months.
“We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies act with urgency. But why should Borno’s children wait this long?” they asked.
The families stressed that their demand was not for preferential treatment but for equal protection, urgency and commitment to human life.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal protection, urgency, determination and commitment to human life,” they said.
They therefore called on the Nigerian government and the Borno State government to treat the rescue of the abducted persons as an urgent national security and humanitarian priority.
The families maintained that the victims’ prolonged absence had continued to inflict emotional hardship on their relatives, particularly parents who remained uncertain about the safety and whereabouts of their children.
They urged the authorities to intensify intelligence gathering, strengthen coordination among security agencies and deploy every available means to secure the safe return of the abducted persons.
The families said they would continue to appeal for government intervention until all the victims were safely reunited with their loved ones.
