Calls Grow for Equal Treatment as Abducted Borno Pupils Remain Missing

Calls Grow for Equal Treatment as Abducted Borno Pupils Remain Missing

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Concern is mounting in Borno State following what residents and civil society groups describe as a slow and inadequate federal response to the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

Community leaders, activists and political stakeholders have expressed frustration over the government’s handling of the incident, arguing that the kidnapping of pupils in the Northeast has not attracted the same level of attention and urgency seen in similar cases elsewhere in the country.

The controversy follows the abduction of dozens of primary and junior secondary school pupils from the Mussa community in Askira/Uba, allegedly by insurgents. Residents say families of the victims have been left anxious as they await concrete information on rescue efforts.

Speaking in Maiduguri on Monday, Chairman of the Borno State Civil Society Organisations, Abubakar Suleiman, criticised what he described as unequal treatment of victims of mass abductions across different parts of Nigeria.

According to him, while a recent kidnapping incident involving pupils and teachers in Oyo State attracted the immediate attention of top federal officials, communities in Borno affected by similar tragedies have not witnessed a comparable intervention.

Suleiman noted that several abduction incidents have occurred in parts of Borno in recent weeks, yet families and local communities have received little direct engagement from federal authorities.

He urged the government to intensify rescue operations and maintain regular communication with affected families.

“The parents deserve reassurance that everything possible is being done to secure the release of their children. They also deserve timely information about ongoing efforts,” he said.

A political analyst based in Borno, Abubakar Kareto, also expressed concern over what he described as disparities in official responses to security emergencies.

He observed that the attacks in Oyo and Askira/Uba reportedly occurred within the same period but generated markedly different levels of federal attention.

Kareto argued that every mass abduction, regardless of location, should receive the same level of urgency and deployment of security resources.

According to him, any perception of unequal treatment risks deepening feelings of neglect among communities already facing the challenges of insurgency and insecurity.

He called on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and military operations aimed at rescuing the abducted children and restoring public confidence.

“The safety of every Nigerian child must be treated as a national priority. Victims in the Northeast deserve the same commitment and urgency accorded to victims anywhere else in the country,” he said.

Also weighing in, President of the Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, Samaila Kaigama, appealed to political leaders and elected representatives from the state to become more vocal in advocating for affected communities.

He urged stakeholders to unite in pressing for stronger federal intervention, emphasising that the plight of abducted children should transcend political and regional considerations.

The incident has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of schools in rural communities, particularly in areas affected by insurgency. Security experts have repeatedly warned that educational institutions remain attractive targets for armed groups operating in parts of the Northeast.

As families continue to wait for positive news, residents say they expect both federal and state authorities to demonstrate greater commitment to securing the release of all those still in captivity and preventing future attacks on schools.