70 Days On: Who Is Looking for Borno’s Missing Children When the Cameras Leave?
For 70 days, the 42 pupils abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have remained out of the sight of their families and communities. While the initial shock of the abduction dominated headlines and prompted security responses, public attention has gradually shifted to other events.
But child protection does not end when media coverage fades.
When the Headlines Fade, the Search Should Not
The first hours after a child abduction are often marked by urgency. Security agencies deploy personnel, gather intelligence, and coordinate search operations. Communities mobilise, public appeals are made, and the incident becomes a national concern.
As weeks turn into months, however, the challenge changes. Search operations become longer, more complex, and less visible to the public. Intelligence gathering must continue. Coordination among security agencies must be sustained. Local communities remain important sources of information, while humanitarian and child protection actors prepare for the children’s eventual recovery.
Although much of this work takes place away from public view, it remains critical. Every day a child remains missing demands the same level of commitment as the first day.
Recovery Is More Than Bringing Children Home
For child protection experts, bringing children home is only one part of recovery. Planning for reunification, psychosocial support, healthcare, educational catch-up, and community reintegration should begin long before the children are found.
The prolonged captivity of the Borno pupils also raises broader questions about Nigeria’s capacity to sustain child recovery efforts during extended emergencies. Are search operations adequately supported? Are families receiving regular information? Are systems in place to help the children rebuild their lives when they return?
As the Borno school abduction reaches 70 days, the conversation should move beyond counting the days. It should examine whether the systems responsible for finding and protecting children remain active long after public attention has moved on.
For the families still waiting, the most important assurance is not that the story remains in the news, but that the search for every missing child continues until they are safely reunited with those who love them.\\
