Borno’s Askira-Uba school children: The abduction Nigeria chose to ignore, By Zainab Suleiman Okino

The abduction of 42 schoolchildren from primary and junior secondary schools in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, has been largely ignored, occurring on the same day as a more widely publicized kidnapping in Oyo State. While the Oyo incident garnered significant outrage and media attention, including a presidential visit, the Borno case has met with near silence, leaving many, like the author's acquaintance, unaware of its occurrence.

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She told me outright she had never heard of it. Three weeks later!

Borno State, located in Nigeria's northeast, has been the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency for nearly two decades, a conflict characterized by mass abductions and displacement. In contrast, Oyo State in the southwest was previously considered relatively peaceful. The stark difference in public and official response to these parallel tragedies raises questions about media coverage, potential censorship, or a deliberate downplaying of the Borno incident.

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Snatching our children from the cradle into the bush, exposed to the elements and harsh weather conditions, is tragic and unfathomable.

The author criticizes the government's handling of insecurity, particularly its seemingly disproportionate response to the Oyo abduction. Despite the presidential delegation's visit to Oyo, the author notes that the Borno abduction was not deemed worthy of similar attention. This disparity fuels concerns about the unequal valuing of Nigerian lives and the government's commitment to ensuring safety across all regions, especially in areas long affected by conflict.

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Is there a deliberate media blackout, censorship, or official cover-up?