Eighty-seven days after terrorists abducted pupils from Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, their families said the pain of their absence remains as raw as it was on the morning they were taken.

The abduction, which occurred on Friday, May 15, 2026, at around 9:00 a.m., shattered the peace of the Mussa community. Armed insurgents raided the school, taking the pupils, including toddlers, into captivity and leaving behind a trail of trauma, empty classrooms, and devastated homes.

Speaking with Daily Trust, parents of the abducted children expressed profound despair, noting that they have received no official information regarding the whereabouts or condition of their loved ones.

Compounding their grief, the families claim that both state and federal authorities have remained largely silent on the situation, leaving them to navigate their nightmares in isolation.

“Nearly three months now, the psychological toll of uncertainty we endure is still hunting us. We live in constant fear and uncertainty,” a parent, Mr Sale Buba, said.

He said that since the children were abducted, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction and demanded ransom from them.

“Our wives cry every day, and barely sleep at night. We constantly think about their conditions under captivity,” he said.

He said that each time the rain started falling, his wife and other affected women would be restless, demanding answers about their children.

“My wife will cry like a baby, thinking about the condition of her little children under the heavy rainfall,” he said.

Also speaking, a mother, Josephine Yohanna, described the situation as a calamity that had befallen the community.

“Many families were left anxious, no government visit, no update, or visible efforts to rescue our children,” he said.

She said when the government officials told them to exercise patience and promised to rescue their children, “We all thought by now our children would have returned home, but it’s become a forgotten issue. This is where we are today.

“For how long should we continue waiting without any update?” she asked.

Ishaya Suya, the chairman of the parents of the abducted children, said living without their children is torture.

“We do not know if our children are safe, if they are fed, or what condition they are in, especially in this rainy season. I wonder if they are sick, healthy,” he said.

He called on the state government to be more concerned about the condition of their children.

“These children were abducted on the same day as the Ogbomosho children in Oyo. Their governor didn’t rest. Today, their children are not only released, but the perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

“Unfortunately, we are here begging to know the fates of our children, but nobody is saying anything,” he said.

The councillor representing Mussa ward, Peter Haruna Waba, confirmed that the children are still in captivity and no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

“We were confused about the situation. Nobody believes that these children will remain in captivity until this time. This is a calamity,” he said.

He urged parents to remain calm as the state government is doing its best to secure the release of the children.

“The Commissioner for Education was in our community on behalf of the governor, and he gave us hope that they would do everything to ensure that our children return safely.

“We know the government is trying to rescue these children, but more efforts should be made to expedite their freedom,” he said.

CSOs condemn govt’s silence

The Borno State Network of Civil Society Organisations condemned the prolonged silence of the state and federal government regarding the mass abduction of the schoolchildren.

The coalition’s chairman, Abubakar Suleiman, described the government’s lack of communication as both unfortunate and unacceptable.

He declared that authorities owe grieving families of Mussa and Lassa communities an immediate and transparent explanation.

He expressed deep concern that months after the tragic incident, the pupils still remain in the custody of their captors with no clear path to their rescue.

“It is quite unfortunate that we are still discussing the children abducted back in May. It is completely unacceptable for parents and guardians to be kept entirely in the dark, left with zero information regarding the health, safety, and overall condition of their children,” he said.

Suleiman heavily criticised the federal and security authorities for failing to provide reassuring or convincing answers to the affected families, noting that the psychological trauma inflicted on the parents is compounded by official apathy.

The CSOs called on the government to ramp up rescue operations to secure the immediate and safe return of the children without further delay.

Suleiman urged government officials to proactively reach out to the parents and guardians to express heartfelt sympathy and provide concrete reassurances that their loved ones will be brought home unharmed.

In a direct appeal to the abductors, the civil society leader called on the terrorists to search their consciences, consider the vulnerable state of the captives, and release them unconditionally to their families.

“These children already come from underprivileged backgrounds and have been systematically excluded from many of life’s basic opportunities.

“For them to now be subjected to this excruciating and terrifying ordeal is beyond unfortunate; it is a tragedy that demands urgent redemption,” he said.

Why we are yet to rescue Mussa school children – security source

A security officer involved in the rescue operation of the abducted schoolchildren has explained why the victims have not been rescued.

The officer said a previous rescue mission, in which he participated, involved a combined team of military personnel, hunters and vigilantes who ventured deep into the forest days after the abduction.

He said the team came across an apparently abandoned mosque deep in the forest, where they found more than 30 mobile phones charging with a generator.

“We did not know it was a bait left by the captors. Unwittingly walking into the trap, we confiscated the devices, only to be ruthlessly ambushed on our way out,” he said.

According to him, the insurgents almost overpowered the team, seizing two military trucks and seven motorcycles and forcing the surviving members to make a narrow escape.

He said the encounter explained why subsequent rescue operations in the area were abruptly halted.

“The militants possess superior knowledge of the terrain, are heavily armed and use psychological traps that turn search missions into lethal ambushes.

“This has left the security forces severely outmatched in the dense forest,” he said.

Borno govt keeps mum, says it’s a security matter

When contacted, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science and Innovation, Engr. Abba Lawan Wakilbe declined to comment on the situation.

He said inquiries should be directed to the military.

“I can’t tell you beyond what you know. It’s a security matter, so contact the security agencies, please,” he said.

FG should show more commitment – Security expert

A security expert, Major General Umar I. Mohammed, urged the Federal Government to demonstrate the same commitment in rescuing the abducted Mussa schoolchildren and teachers as it did in the case of the Oriire pupils in Oyo State.

Mohammed said the government had a primary responsibility to protect the lives and welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of where they lived.

“I will advise the government that all Nigerians should be treated the same. The same level of commitment, zeal and interest should be shown whenever there is a crisis anywhere in the country,” he said.

He acknowledged the government’s efforts but urged it to deploy its full capacity to rescue citizens facing security challenges.

Mohammed also urged people in the North to speak out against issues affecting their communities.

“They should be active and condemn when things are done wrongly. We should act in unison to bring an end to some of these menaces,” he said.

The Mussa children were abducted alongside their teachers and the Oriire pupils, who were rescued two weeks ago.

A public affairs analyst, Alhaji Ahmadu Ibrahim, also questioned the apparent disparity in the government’s response.

He urged the Federal Government to explain why the Oriire pupils were rescued while the Mussa children remain in captivity. (Daily Trust)

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