By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

Parents and residents of Mussa and Lassa communities in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have expressed deep concern over the continued captivity of dozens of abducted children, warning that they may take their grievances to Abuja if urgent steps are not taken to secure their release.

The families, whose children have reportedly spent more than 130 days in the custody of suspected Boko Haram insurgents, staged a peaceful protest on Monday in Askira/Uba, lamenting what they described as the prolonged delay in rescuing the victims.

The children were abducted during attacks that occurred on May 15, 2026. According to parents and school authorities, the victims include 44 children from Mussa Ward and 36 pupils from schools in Lassa, making a total of 80 children still unaccounted for.

Speaking during the protest, the chairman of the parents’ group, Ishaku Suya, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the safe return of the children. He said the affected families had endured months of anguish and uncertainty and were demanding concrete action from the authorities.

One of the parents, Mrs Josephine Yohanna, questioned why the children had remained in captivity for such a long period, noting that other kidnapping victims in different parts of the country had been rescued within a shorter timeframe. She urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the same commitment toward securing the release of the Borno children.

The acting District Head of Lassa, Wadzani Hammatu, described the situation as heartbreaking, particularly because many of the abducted children were very young. He appealed to the government and security agencies to do everything possible to bring them home safely.

Also speaking, the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ali Samaila Mamza, called on the Federal Government, Borno State Government and relevant security institutions to intensify efforts to secure the release of the children. He said the affected communities had continued to pray for the victims while hoping for positive intervention from authorities.

The member representing Askira/Uba and Hawul Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr Midala Usman Balami, condemned the prolonged captivity of the children and disclosed that he had already raised the matter on the floor of the National Assembly. He pledged to continue advocating for stronger action until the children regain their freedom.

Balami stressed that the situation required urgent attention because innocent children and their families had suffered immensely for more than four months. He urged both federal and state authorities to deploy every available resource to resolve the crisis.

Another parent, identified as Buba, said families had remained patient for months but were becoming increasingly frustrated by the absence of visible progress. He maintained that the affected communities would continue to demand action until their children were rescued.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the Presidency regarding the concerns raised by the protesting parents and community leaders.

Security expert and retired Major General Umar I. Mohammed called on the government to sustain and strengthen efforts aimed at rescuing all abducted citizens across the country. He emphasised that protecting lives and ensuring the safety of Nigerians remains one of the primary responsibilities of government.

According to him, security challenges in different parts of the country should receive equal attention and urgency, irrespective of location. He urged authorities to demonstrate the highest level of commitment in addressing the plight of the abducted children and restoring confidence among affected communities.

The continued captivity of the children has renewed concerns over insecurity in parts of Borno State, with residents calling for intensified military operations, improved intelligence gathering and stronger collaboration among security agencies to ensure the safe return of the victims and prevent future abductions.