79 Days Gone: Where Are Borno’s 42 Missing Schoolchildren?
The families of 42 school children who were abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Borno State are still waiting for their safe return after 79 days of their abduction, while fears continue to grow about the children’s welfare.
The children were abducted on May 15 when suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked the school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area, leaving families in weeks of uncertainty about their safety, health and whereabouts.
The extended period of captivity has led to new concerns about child protection issues, especially in the context of the public health issues Borno is still dealing with such as a cholera outbreak. Families are worried about the children’s risk of exposure to illness, poor nutrition, psychological stress and other threats when they are away from their families and communities.
The development follows reports of suspected Boko Haram terrorists reaching out to families of over 50 people detained and saying they were prepared to meet with the government via a journalist they had chosen as a mediator.
The communication did not explicitly say how the 42 schoolchildren were, but it has reignited the demand for the authorities to step up efforts to ensure their safety and to bring them back.
One of the children’s parents had earlier complained to the government that the uncertainty was too much for families to bear and asked for the children to be brought home.
Abubakar Suleiman, Chairman, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, called on the government to keep them updated on the rescue operations and move swiftly to bring the children home safely.
Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, Director of Defence Media Operations, said that the children were not forgotten and that Operation Hadin Kai had plans to secure their release.
The children’s prolonged absence from their homes, at 79 days, has raised serious concerns regarding their protection, education, health and psychological wellbeing.
