“We Think About Our Children Every Day”: Families Cry Out as Borno, Oyo Pupils Spend 44 Days in Captivity

Forty-four days after pupils and teachers were abducted in Borno and Oyo states, families of the affected children continue to face fear and uncertainty as they wait for updates about their loved ones.

In Borno State, parents of 42 pupils taken from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area said they have received no clear information about their children’s condition or location since the attack on May 15, 2026.

The children, including toddlers as young as two years old, were taken from their classrooms during the attack on the Mussa community. No group has claimed responsibility or contacted the families.

For the parents, the long wait has become painful. They want answers and urgent action from authorities.

One of the parents, Saleh Buba, whose two children were among those abducted, said the families have lived in constant worry.

“We think about our children every day because some of them are very young. We do not know their condition or what they are facing,” he said.

Meanwhile, pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State have also spent 44 days in captivity. The incident happened on the same day as the Borno attack, raising fresh concerns about the safety of schools.

One of the abducted teachers in Oyo was later killed by the captors.

Security agencies have continued rescue operations, while authorities have appealed for patience. However, families and civil society groups continue to demand faster action to bring the children home.

The United Nations has also called for the immediate release of all abducted pupils and teachers in Borno and Oyo states, urging stronger protection for schools and children.