Forty-seven days after terrorists abducted 42 pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, their parents said they are living in agony as they await any information about the children’s whereabouts.

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

No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction or contacted the families to demand ransom since the incident.

The Boko Haram insurgents have been terrorising northeast Nigeria for the past decade, killing, abducting and destroying public and private properties.

Many humanitarian organisations had estimated that tens of thousands of people, including security personnel, had lost their lives to the Boko Haram insurgency. Hundreds of insurgents had also been killed by the security operatives.

Despite the ongoing military onslaught in the sub-region, the terrorists continue to carry out attacks on both civilian and military populations.

Speaking to Daily Trust on Sunday, some parents expressed frustration over what they described as the slow response by government authorities, saying they have received no update on efforts to rescue their children.

One of the parents, Saleh Buba, whose two children were among those abducted, said the families have been living in fear and uncertainty.

“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 said government officials visited the community shortly after the incident and appealed for patience, but nothing has been heard since then.

“Dozens of families are suffering. What we want from the government is an explanation and regular updates on what is being done,” he said.

Another parent, Josphin Yohanna, whose three-year-old child was abducted, said the uncertainty has become unbearable.

“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 parents believe the abductors may still be hiding in nearby bushes and mountainous areas around the community.

“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,” one parent said.

Mussa community is located near the fringes of the Sambisa Forest, a long-time stronghold of Boko Haram insurgents, who have carried out attacks across Borno and other parts of the North-East for more than a decade.

The councillor representing Mussa Ward, Peter Haruna Waba, described the situation as painful and troubling.

“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, however, said no federal government delegation had visited the community to sympathise with the families or brief them on efforts to secure the children’s release.

He urged parents to ignore rumours and remain calm while awaiting the outcome of ongoing security operations.

Another parent said the prolonged silence had left families feeling abandoned.

“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,” he said.

The Chairman of the Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, Abubakar Suleiman, also alleged that federal intervention had been minimal since the abduction.

Similarly, the President of the Borno South Youths Alliance Forum, Samaila Kaigama, called on political leaders to intensify efforts to secure stronger federal involvement.

“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 added that every Nigerian life deserves equal attention regardless of region, warning that perceptions of unequal treatment could deepen feelings of marginalisation.

The abduction in Borno occurred on the same day gunmen attacked schools in Oyo State, abducting pupils and teachers. One of the kidnapped teachers was later killed by his captors.

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

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