By Gloria Ikibah
Families of abducted schoolchildren and other victims in Borno State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to intensify efforts to secure the immediate and safe release of their loved ones, 100 days after some of them were taken captive.
The families made the appeal on Friday at a press conference in Abuja, where they expressed frustration and anguish over the continued captivity of 42 pupils and students of Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. 
The children were abducted on May 15, 2026.
The families also raised concerns over 36 students of Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, who were abducted on June 29 while sitting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
They further called for the rescue of 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri, as well as other victims taken along the Chibok route and other vulnerable roads and communities across the state.
Describing the past 100 days as a period of fear, uncertainty and unbearable pain, the Secretary of the Hawul/Askira-Uba Elders Forum, Malla Gadzama, said families had been left waiting anxiously 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 on behalf of the families.
He urged President Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to mobilise all available national security resources to rescue 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, their families are suffering, their communities are hurting,” he said.
The families also urged Governor Zulum to use the full weight of his office to push for the release of the victims and work closely with the Federal Government, security agencies and intelligence services to explore every possible avenue for their safe return.
‘If It Could Be Done in Oyo, It Can Be Done in Borno’
The families pointed to the successful rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, saying the operation showed that a coordinated and intelligence-led effort could also secure the freedom of the Borno victims.
While commending the Federal Government and security agencies for the Oyo rescue operation, they questioned why the Borno victims had been left in captivity for so long.
“We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies act with urgency. But why should Borno’s children wait this long?” he asked.
The families said they were not demanding preferential treatment, but equal protection and the same level of urgency given to other victims.
“We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal protection, urgency, determination and commitment to human life,” he said.
They called for the immediate rescue of the 42 pupils and students abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School, the 36 students still missing from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, and the 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri.
They also demanded urgent action to rescue victims taken along the Chibok route and other major and vulnerable routes across Borno State.
Beyond rescue operations, the families called for regular, transparent and credible communication from the government and security authorities on efforts being made to secure the victims’ release.
They also demanded stronger security around schools, major highways and vulnerable communities, as well as a properly funded and sustained intelligence-led rescue operation involving all relevant security and intelligence agencies.
‘This Must Not Become Normal’
The families warned against allowing prolonged abductions to become another routine feature of Nigeria’s security crisis.
“The continued captivity of these children cannot become normal,” he said.
“We cannot allow them to become statistics or fade from public attention as time passes.”
They stressed that behind every abduction was a family dealing with fear, anxiety and uncertainty.
“These are not statistics. They are children, parents, siblings, spouses and loved ones. They are human beings whose families are praying and crying every day,” he said.
The families appealed to Nigerians and the authorities not to allow the passage of time to weaken the urgency of the situation.
“100 days is too long. 100 days without our children. 100 days of sleepless nights. 100 days of tears and fear. 100 days of uncertainty,” he said.
Also speaking at the press conference, the lawmaker representing Hawul/Askira-Uba Federal Constituency, Midala Balami, sympathised with the affected families and urged the government to do everything within its power to secure the safe return of the abducted children and other victims.
Balami said the abductions had caused deep emotional and psychological distress among families and residents of the constituency.
“Among those people that you are seeing here, you can see a father whose wife and five-month daughter were abducted. As a representative of Askira-Uba, we have seen sleepless nights. It is so devastating that most times, I lose appetite and I hardly find even my peace. This is the level of devastation we find ourselves,” he said.
He urged the government and security agencies to sustain their efforts until the victims were safely reunited with their families.
The families specifically demanded the immediate rescue and safe return of the 42 pupils and students abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School; the 36 students still missing from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa; and the 38 people reportedly abducted along the Buratai Road to Maiduguri.
They also called for urgent action to rescue victims abducted along the Chibok route and other dangerous routes across Borno State.
Other demands included regular and credible updates to affected families, increased protection for schools, major roads and vulnerable communities, and a coordinated, intelligence-led and sustained rescue operation backed by the necessary resources.
The families acknowledged the sacrifices of security personnel fighting insurgency and banditry across the country, but said the continued captivity of innocent children and civilians required an urgent national response.
They urged the authorities not to allow the victims to disappear from public attention simply because their captivity had stretched into months.
“Your children are our children. Your pain is our pain,” the families told other affected families, promising to continue speaking out until action was taken.
In their final appeal, the families called on the President and the Borno State Governor to make the rescue of the abducted children and other victims an immediate priority.
“Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, bring our children home.
“Governor Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, stand with these families and help bring our children home.
“We demand quick action. We demand equal protection. We demand a determined rescue operation. We demand that our children be brought home.
“Enough is enough. Bring our children home. Rescue our loved ones. 100 days is too long.”
