47 Days After Borno School Abduction, Parents Demand Answers As Fears Grow Over Missing Children

Parents of 42 pupils abducted from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have expressed growing fears and emotional distress, saying they remain uncertain whether their children are still alive 47 days after the incident.

The pupils, including toddlers reportedly as young as two years old, were abducted from their classrooms on May 15, 2026, during an attack on the Mussa community.

Since the incident, no group has officially claimed responsibility, and affected families say they have received neither ransom demands nor direct communication from the abductors.

Speaking on the prolonged uncertainty, several parents described the situation as devastating and criticised what they viewed as limited public communication regarding ongoing rescue efforts.

One of the affected parents, Saleh Buba, whose two children were among those taken, said families have remained in anguish since the attack.

According to him, the emotional burden has become overwhelming, particularly for parents of very young children.

“We think about our children every day because some of them are toddlers. One of my children is just two years old. My wife and the other mothers have barely slept since they were taken,” he said.

Buba stated that government officials visited the community shortly after the abduction and appealed for patience but added that families have not received meaningful updates since then.

Another parent, Josphin Yohanna, whose three-year-old child was abducted, said the silence surrounding the rescue efforts has deepened the pain experienced by affected households.

“For 47 days, we have heard nothing. We don’t know whether our children are sick, healthy, dead or alive. The officials told us to be patient because efforts were ongoing, but how long should we continue waiting without any information?” she asked.

Some residents also expressed concerns that the abductors may still be operating within surrounding bushes and mountainous areas near the community.

Parents said each passing day without progress or communication has intensified anxiety and uncertainty.

One affected parent appealed for accelerated rescue operations.

“Our children are getting farther away from us each day the rescue is delayed. We appreciate the government’s efforts, but we want security agencies to act quickly and bring them home,” the parent said.

Others lamented what they described as a lack of visible intervention.

“We feel forgotten. It is as if our children do not matter. Most of them are between two and five years old, yet we have not seen any significant federal intervention aimed at bringing them home,” another parent stated.

Mussa community is located close to the Sambisa Forest axis, an area that has experienced repeated insurgent activities over the years.

The insurgency in North-East Nigeria has continued to impact communities through attacks, displacement, abductions, and destruction of infrastructure despite ongoing security operations.

Commenting on the development, the councillor representing Mussa Ward, Peter Haruna Waba, described the situation as deeply painful.

“It is heartbreaking. Forty-two children, including toddlers, have remained missing for 47 days without any trace.

“I know Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration is making efforts, but security operations are sensitive and cannot be discussed publicly,” he said.

Waba also stated that no federal delegation had visited the community to engage affected families or provide updates on rescue operations.

He appealed to residents to avoid speculation and remain calm while security efforts continue.

The Chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, Abubakar Suleiman, expressed concern over what he described as inadequate federal intervention.

Similarly, the President of the Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, Samaila Kaigama, called for stronger national attention to the situation.

“More than 40 schoolchildren were kidnapped, yet the only visible response was the presentation of N10 million to traditional rulers in Askira/Uba.

“The affected families want concrete action and the safe return of their children,” he said.

Kaigama further stressed that every Nigerian life deserves equal concern and protection regardless of geographical location.

The abduction occurred on the same day armed attackers targeted schools in Oyo State, resulting in the abduction of pupils and teachers, with reports later confirming the death of one of the abducted teachers.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted pupils and teachers in both Borno and Oyo states.

The incident has renewed concerns over school safety and the broader challenge of protecting children and educational institutions in conflict-affected communities across Nigeria.