Amina Hassan in Abuja
Parents of Margi group in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to accentuate efforts to safe the discharge of 78 schoolchildren and a trainer kidnapped from Mussa and Lassa communities in separate incidents.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Chairman of the Margi group, Malla Gadzama, mentioned 42 youngsters had been kidnapped from Mussa on May 15, 2026, whereas 36 youngsters and a trainer had been taken from Lassa on June 29, in the course of the interval of the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.
The group mentioned the victims had remained in captivity for months regardless of repeated appeals to the federal government and different related authorities.
Another group member, Frank Kudla, mentioned the abductors had communicated with the federal government however had not contacted the victims’ households immediately.
He famous that the group understood that the federal government was the one occasion conscious of the abductors’ calls for, leaving the households with out direct details about the state of affairs.
“We asked the government to resolve quickly so that our children can be released,” he mentioned.
Kudla added that the households had obtained assurances from the Borno State Government that the kids could be returned, however they had been nonetheless awaiting their launch months later.
Gadzama mentioned the group had beforehand held press conferences in Maiduguri and on the National Assembly to attract consideration to the abductions, however the efforts had but to safe the victims’ freedom.
The group’s secretary, Gambo Kadiri, expressed concern that President Tinubu may not have been totally briefed concerning the state of affairs, though the group couldn’t set up whether or not the president had obtained details about the incidents.
Kadiri mentioned the group had additionally written to the National Security Adviser (NSA) however had but to obtain a response. He known as on the related authorities to deal with the matter with urgency and maintain efforts to safe the victims’ launch.
Kudla mentioned makes an attempt to safe an viewers with the Senate President and different National Assembly authorities had additionally been unsuccessful, prompting the group to carry one other press briefing to attract consideration to the matter.
The group mentioned it would contemplate a procession to the National Assembly to press lawmakers to have interaction the Presidency and safety companies over the continued captivity of the kids and their trainer.
The group known as for coordinated rescue efforts involving federal and state authorities, in addition to common communication with the affected households with out compromising the security of the victims.
It additionally urged the federal government to ascertain a chosen liaison association by means of which households might obtain verified info and lift issues concerning the state of affairs.
The group known as for psychosocial and welfare assist for the affected households, alongside medical care, rehabilitation and academic help for the kids upon their return. It additional urged the authorities to strengthen safety round susceptible faculties and communities to forestall future abductions.
Appealing to civil society organisations, spiritual and conventional leaders, skilled associations, ladies’s and youth teams, and the media, the group urged sustained public consideration to the victims’ plight.
It additionally cautioned journalists in opposition to publishing info that might endanger the kids or compromise rescue efforts.
