Bring back our children, families of abducted Borno pupils beg Tinubu

Families of abducted schoolchildren in Nigeria's Borno State are appealing directly to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babagana Zulum, begging for intensified efforts to secure the release of their loved ones who have been held captive for 100 days.

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Too much time has passed without our children. We have endured sleepless nights, fear and uncertainty, and we are still asking one question: where are our loved ones, and when are they coming home?

The pleas come after multiple abductions, including 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Day Secondary School on May 15, 2026, and 36 students from Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, on June 29. Additionally, 38 people were abducted along Buratai Road to Maiduguri, with others taken along the Chibok route and in other parts of the state. Mr. Malla Gadzama, Secretary of the Hawul/Askira-Uba Elders Forum, described the situation as one of "prolonged pain, fear and uncertainty," questioning "where are our loved ones, and when are they coming home?"

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Mr President, these families have waited long enough. Governor Zulum, these are the children of Borno. Their parents are waiting, their families are suffering, their communities are hurting.

The families are urging the Federal Government to deploy all available security resources, drawing a parallel with the recent successful rescue of abducted children in Oyo State. "We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies act with urgency, but why should Borno’s children wait this long?" they asked, demanding equal commitment and urgency for victims in Borno. They also called for immediate rescue of all abducted individuals, regular and transparent communication with affected families, stronger protection for schools and vulnerable communities, and a properly funded, intelligence-led national rescue operation.

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We have seen what is possible when government and security agencies act with urgency, but why should Borno’s children wait this long?

Expressing deep concern, the families warned against the normalization of prolonged abductions, stating, "This must not become normal." They emphasized that the continued captivity of these children cannot become routine and that the victims are real individuals, not mere statistics. The families are demanding that their loved ones be returned home safely and that such incidents are not allowed to fade from public attention.

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We are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal protection, urgency, determination and commitment to human life.