Parents of children abducted from Nigeria's northeastern Borno state protested, demanding the federal government secure their release nearly 100 days after they were taken. The children were seized from classrooms on May 15 in Mussa, a community near Sambisa Forest.
The ongoing abductions and persistent insecurity in northeastern Nigeria underscore the challenges faced by civilians and the government in combating militant groups, highlighting the deep emotional and social toll on affected families.
Parents of children abducted from Nigeria's northeastern Borno state protested in Uba town, demanding the federal government secure their release nearly 100 days after they were taken. The children were seized from their classrooms on May 15 in Mussa, a community on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a long-time stronghold of Islamist militants.
The protest highlights families' frustration as kidnappings persist despite years of military operations against Boko Haram and its Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) offshoot. While the insurgency has weakened, both groups continue to attack civilians, schools, and security forces.
Following the Mussa abduction, another attack in nearby Lassa on June 29 resulted in 36 students and a teacher remaining captive. Authorities recently secured the release of schoolchildren abducted in southwest Oyo state after nearly two months.
A police spokesperson stated the military is handling the situation, but military officials did not respond to requests for comment. Families expressed deep worry and pleaded for government intervention. Orbet Lawan Yakubu, representing the traditional ruler of Mussa, indicated around 45 children remain unaccounted for, impacting nearly every family in the community.