Five Months, 18 Days in Captivity: When Will the Abducted Borno Schoolchildren Return Home?
Five months and 18 days after suspected Boko Haram insurgents abducted schoolchildren from Mussa community in Borno State, families are still awaiting their return, with renewed appeals to the Federal Government to secure their release.
The children were abducted on May 15, 2026, from primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area, while another group of 36 students and a teacher were taken from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29, during their National Examinations Council examinations.
As of November 2, 2026, the children abducted from Mussa have spent 171 days away from their families, while those taken from Lassa have been missing for 126 days.
At a press briefing in Abuja on October 29, community representatives said 78 schoolchildren and a teacher remained in captivity. Earlier government estimates had placed the number of missing children at approximately 80.
The prolonged captivity has left families distressed, with parents repeatedly demanding greater government intervention and regular updates on efforts to secure their children’s freedom.
Beyond the abductions, insecurity has disrupted education across Askira-Uba. Reports indicate that only 56 of the area’s 113 primary schools remain operational.
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum previously assured families that federal and state authorities were working towards the children’s safe return.
However, the continuing absence of the children has intensified concerns about their safety, well-being and interrupted education.
For the affected families, the demand remains unchanged: the safe return of their children and stronger protection for schools across vulnerable communities.
