25 Days After: Families Hold on to Hope as Oyo, Borno School Abductees Remain Missing
Twenty-five days after armed groups attacked schools in Oyo and Borno States, children and teachers remain in captivity as security agencies expand rescue efforts and intensify pressure on suspected hideouts linked to the abductions.
In Borno State, attention has shifted to recent military successes following the rescue of 360 abducted persons from a Boko Haram enclave in the Mandara Mountains by troops of Operation Hadin Kai. Military authorities described the operation as one of the largest hostage recovery missions in recent years, saying it was achieved through weeks of intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, and coordinated ground operations.
Security officials believe the development could provide valuable intelligence for ongoing efforts to locate other abducted children and teachers believed to be held within similar networks.
In Oyo State, search-and-rescue operations have continued with support from the Nigerian Air Force, which has sustained aerial surveillance missions over forest corridors and remote locations connected to the May 15 school attacks. Security agencies say intelligence collection remains active, while investigations into suspected collaborators and logistical support networks are progressing.
Meanwhile, anxiety remains high among families awaiting news of their loved ones. Community leaders and education stakeholders have renewed calls for faster action, noting that the prolonged captivity of the children and teachers continues to disrupt learning activities and deepen fears about school security.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers has maintained pressure on authorities, insisting that the safe return of the abductees must remain a national priority. Child protection advocates have also urged government agencies to prepare long-term psychosocial support for affected families and those eventually rescued.
As the crisis enters its twenty-fifth day, hopes are rising that recent security breakthroughs could help accelerate efforts to secure the safe return of all abducted children and teachers.
