Parents of schoolchildren abducted from Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have given the Federal Government six days to secure the release of their children or face a protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The families and other community members made the demand during a protest over the continued captivity of the children, who have now spent more than 130 days with their abductors. The parents said they could no longer remain silent while waiting for their children to return home.
The abductions began on May 15, 2026, when schoolchildren were taken from Mussa. A separate attack in Lassa on June 29 also led to the abduction of 36 students, according to reports from the affected communities. The families have continued to call for intensified efforts to secure the victims’ release.
Speaking during the protest, chairman of the parents’ group, Ishaku Suya, appealed directly to President Bola Tinubu to intervene. He questioned why children abducted in Oyo State had been rescued while the Borno victims remained in captivity.
The parents said they would proceed to Abuja if there was no progress within the six day period, insisting that their children deserved the same attention and protection as other Nigerians.
Another parent, Josphin Yohanna, expressed similar frustration, saying the families were struggling to understand why the response to the Borno abductions had not produced the same result they witnessed in the Oyo case.
She argued that the Federal Government had demonstrated its ability to secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and urged the authorities to apply the same urgency to the victims in Borno.
The member representing Askira Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr Midala Usman Balami, also joined the call for immediate action.
Balami said the children had suffered for more than four months and disclosed that he had already raised the matter at the National Assembly. He pledged to continue pressing the authorities to intensify efforts to bring the victims home.
He also called on the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to deploy available security resources towards the rescue operation, stressing the need to protect the lives of the affected children and other residents facing insecurity in the area.
The prolonged captivity has continued to worry families and community leaders, particularly after authorities in July confirmed that a proof of life video had been received showing some of the students abducted from Lassa.
The parents have now made clear that they intend to take their protest to Abuja if their demand is not addressed within six days.
As of the latest reports, there had been no official response from the Presidency to the ultimatum.
