62 Days in Captivity: Borno Parents Cry Out as 42 Schoolchildren Remain Missing
It has been 62 days since 42 pupils of Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State were abducted, yet their families continue to wait anxiously for news of their safe return.
The children were seized by armed attackers on May 15, 2026, in an assault that forced the closure of schools in affected communities and disrupted education for hundreds of other children. While security agencies have continued rescue efforts, the whereabouts of the pupils remain unknown.
Parents say each passing day has brought fresh emotional pain. Many have appealed to the Federal Government, the Borno State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the children, insisting that every day in captivity increases the risks to their health, safety and emotional wellbeing.
The prolonged ordeal has also raised concerns among child rights advocates, who warn that extended captivity can have lasting psychological, educational and social consequences for children. They stress that every child has the right to protection, education and a safe learning environment free from violence.
As families cling to hope, they continue to call for sustained rescue operations and stronger measures to protect schools from attacks, ensuring that children can learn without fear and that no family is left to endure such prolonged uncertainty again.
