130 Days in Captivity: Borno Parents Give Government 6-Day Ultimatum to Bring Their Children Home
Parents and community members in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have protested the prolonged captivity of dozens of children abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities.
The families marched in Askira/Uba on Monday, demanding urgent government action to secure the children’s release. They also issued a six-day ultimatum, threatening to take their protest to the Presidential Villa in Abuja if the children remain in captivity.
According to parents and school authorities, the abduction involved 44 children from Mussa Ward and 36 from Lassa schools. The children were taken on May 15 and have now spent more than 130 days in captivity.
Parents compared their situation with the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State on the same day. The Oyo victims were released after 56 days in captivity.
Ishaku Suya, chairman of the abducted pupils’ parents, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct security agencies to intensify efforts to bring the children home.
A mother, Josphin Yohanna, questioned why children in Borno had not received the same urgency, saying families in the Northeast were also Nigerian citizens.
Lassa’s acting district head, Wadzani Hammatu, said many of the abducted children were toddlers, reportedly between one and three years old.
The Emir of Uba, Ali Samaila Mamza, and lawmakers representing the area also appealed for stronger efforts to secure the children’s safe return.
The Presidency had not publicly responded to the parents’ six-day ultimatum as of press time.
