Amina Hassan in Abuja
Parents of Margi neighborhood in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to accentuate efforts to safe the discharge of 78 schoolchildren and a trainer kidnapped from Mussa and Lassa communities in separate incidents.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the Margi neighborhood, Malla Gadzama, stated 42 youngsters had been kidnapped from Mussa on May 15, 2026, whereas 36 youngsters and a trainer had been taken from Lassa on June 29, in the course of the interval of the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The neighborhood stated the victims had remained in captivity for months regardless of repeated appeals to the federal government and different related authorities.
Another neighborhood member, Frank Kudla, stated the abductors had communicated with the federal government however had not contacted the victims’ households instantly.
He famous that the neighborhood understood that the federal government was the one social gathering conscious of the abductors’ calls for, leaving the households with out direct details about the scenario.
“We asked the government to resolve quickly so that our children can be released,” he stated.
Kudla added that the households had obtained assurances from the Borno State Government that the kids could be returned, however they had been nonetheless awaiting their launch months later.
Gadzama stated the neighborhood had beforehand held press conferences in Maiduguri and on the National Assembly to attract consideration to the abductions, however the efforts had but to safe the victims’ freedom.
The neighborhood’s secretary, Gambo Kadiri, expressed concern that President Tinubu may not have been totally briefed concerning the scenario, though the neighborhood couldn’t set up whether or not the president had obtained details about the incidents.
Kadiri stated the neighborhood had additionally written to the National Security Adviser (NSA) however had but to obtain a response. He known as on the related authorities to deal with the matter with urgency and maintain efforts to safe the victims’ launch.
Kudla stated makes an attempt to safe an viewers with the Senate President and different National Assembly authorities had additionally been unsuccessful, prompting the neighborhood to carry one other press briefing to attract consideration to the matter.
The neighborhood stated it would think about a procession to the National Assembly to press lawmakers to have interaction the Presidency and safety businesses over the continued captivity of the kids and their trainer.
The neighborhood known as for coordinated rescue efforts involving federal and state authorities, in addition to common communication with the affected households with out compromising the protection of the victims.
It additionally urged the federal government to ascertain a chosen liaison association by way of which households might obtain verified info and lift considerations concerning the scenario.
The neighborhood known as for psychosocial and welfare help for the affected households, alongside medical care, rehabilitation and academic help for the kids upon their return. It additional urged the authorities to strengthen safety round susceptible faculties and communities to stop future abductions.
Appealing to civil society organisations, non secular and conventional leaders, skilled associations, ladies’s and youth teams, and the media, the neighborhood urged sustained public consideration to the victims’ plight.
It additionally cautioned journalists towards publishing info that might endanger the kids or compromise rescue efforts.
