140 days in captivity: Margi community cries out for abducted Borno schoolchildren

For 140 days, the parents of 42 children abducted from Mussa community in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have lived with the agony of not knowing whether their children are safe, how they are surviving or when they will return home.

Their pain has been compounded by the abduction of another 36 students and a teacher from a secondary school in Lassa community, leaving families across the two communities in fear and uncertainty.

The children were abducted while pursuing their education, with the Lassa students reportedly taken away on June 26, 2026, while preparing for their national examination.

Now, the Margi community says it is running out of patience as it renews its appeal to the Federal Government and Borno State Government to intensify efforts to secure the release of the victims.

Speaking at a media briefing on behalf of the community and affected families, on Thursday in Abuja, the Secretary of the Margi Community, Malla Gadzama, said the abducted children must not be allowed to disappear from public attention.

Gadzama, who read the community’s address, said the families had endured sleepless nights, tears and unbearable uncertainty since the abductions.

“Where are our children? How are they surviving? When will they return?” he asked, conveying the anguish of parents who have continued to wait for news of their loved ones.

He said the victims were not merely statistics in security reports but children with families, friends and communities waiting desperately for their safe return.

“These children were not abducted while committing an offence or wandering around in the community. They were in school, seeking knowledge and preparing for a better future for themselves and the country,” he said.

The community appealed to President Bola Tinubu to give the rescue operation urgent attention, urging him to mobilise security and intelligence agencies and deploy the necessary resources to secure the victims’ freedom.

The community also urged Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, to make their rescue a priority in his administration’s engagements with the Federal Government and security agencies.

Gadzama said the affected families needed regular communication from the authorities, stressing that government assurances alone could not end their suffering.

He urged the state government to establish a reliable channel through which families could receive updates without compromising ongoing rescue operations.

The community also called on elected representatives, including Senator Ali Ndume, members of the National Assembly and the Borno State House of Assembly, to sustain pressure on the relevant authorities until the victims were released.

It further appealed to traditional rulers, civil society organisations, the media and other Nigerians to keep the abductions in the public domain.

With political activities expected to intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, Gadzama urged politicians to remember the plight of the affected families and demonstrate genuine concern through action rather than campaign promises.
The community also demanded psychological, medical and welfare support for the families, as well as rehabilitation and educational assistance for the children upon their return.

It called for stronger security around vulnerable schools and communities to prevent further attacks.

Citing Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, Gadzama said the community was not asking for a favour but demanding that the authorities fulfil their constitutional responsibility.

“Our demand is not for privilege. It is for the protection of our children,” he said.

He urged the authorities to sustain rescue efforts until the abducted pupils and their teacher were reunited with their families.

“Your pain is our pain. Your children are our children. We will not allow their plight to be forgotten,” Gadzama told the affected families.